вЂњProbably the most special thing is his ability to unlock a game on his own,вЂќ Farrell said about Smith. But with Kurtley Beale at full-back and the outstanding Michael Hooper around to keep England honest at the breakdown there is theoretical hope вЂ“ particularly if they start well and Scott Wisemantel, part of EnglandвЂ™s inner sanctum not so long ago, has supplied some useful tactical tips.Д«ut what if Smith, Owen Farrell, Henry Slade, Tuilagi and Jonny May receive some clean, front-foot ball and the rejigged jazz ensemble combines as Jones hopes it will? Even Farrell, back from last weekвЂ™s false positive to wear 12, seems to be expecting big things and clearly does not share JonesвЂ™s aversion to hyping up talented youth. If they had Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi aboard they would be even more upbeat. We have to see this game as a fresh opportunity, attack it and have the mindset to really go after them.вЂќДЄustralia, by contrast, will be super keen to play the role of party-poopers.

If we look at past games thinking weвЂ™ll win then weвЂ™ll be in trouble. In my experience the team that dwells on the previous results the most will suffer during the game. Maro Itoje, poised to lead the team out on the occasion of his 50th England cap, also believes the visitors are now a different proposition. While there is a real sense something exciting is brewing, it remains to be seen whether the amber nectar will be completely perfect from the outset. By entrusting Marcus Smith with the No 10 jersey, too, there is a new focal point. If anyone had predicted even a week ago the home side would line up against Australia with Manu Tuilagi on the wing and Rodd in the front row, even Jones would have raised a quizzical eyebrow. This, though, is an increasingly reconfigured England side. Since Jones took charge in November 2015, furthermore, England have only once failed to put 30 points on his compatriots. JonesвЂ™s England have won seven straight Tests against Australia and, outside World Cups, there has been just one Wallabies win home or away since June 2010. More practicable, perhaps, is to gather together his remaining players, assuming there are no more positive tests lurking in the shrubbery, and tell them to overlook the recent history of this fixture. If Jones fancies generating some pre-game mischief he should lob the 42-year-old Sheridan an XL tracksuit and invite him to join EnglandвЂ™s warm-up. Twice, at Twickenham in 2005 and in the World Cup quarter-final in Marseille in 2007, he created such carnage that a generation of Wallabies tight forwards were left traumatised. It will certainly be a big ask for the previously low-profile Rodd to emulate the destructive impact that another Sale loosehead, Andrew Sheridan, used to have in this fixture. A couple of days ago England were licking their lips at the prospect of piling into a depleted Australian front row. To lose a second, Ellis Genge, may yet cause a serious issue if anything were to befall either SaleвЂ™s uncapped Bevan Rodd or NewcastleвЂ™s Trevor Davison prior to the teatime kick-off. To lose one prominent loosehead prop, Joe Marler, to a positive Covid-19 test is unfortunate. Eddie Jones is currently experiencing a not-dissimilar sense of trepidation ahead of EnglandвЂ™s eagerly awaited Twickenham date with the Wallabies, praying no further Covid вЂњsurprisesвЂќ are lying in wait to test his teamвЂ™s already-exposed undercarriage.

As every Australian outback resident knows, you can never be entirely sure what is lurking beneath the seat of the outdoor dunny.

Joe don t wanna be a player no more