KEY POINTS:
MONTPELLIER - If Australia win this World Cup they will have much to thank England for.
Not only did the English spoil Australia's 2003 World Cup party by beating them in that epic final in Sydney but they have also subjected the Wallabies to one of the greatest humiliations ever witnessed on an international rugby field.
There have been no more embarrassing moments for Australian rugby than at Twickenham in 2005 when England ruthlessly and systematically demolished the Australian scrum.
Wallaby prop Al Baxter was sent to the sin-bin for not packing straight. Matt Dunning switched to the tighthead and one scrum later was taken off with a neck injury. Australia's shame was complete when the referee mercifully ordered that the remaining scrums be uncontested.
Australia responded to that dark day at Twickenham by sacking coach Eddie Jones and replacing him with John Connolly, an old-fashioned forwards coach whose nickname "knuckles" says it all.
Connolly immediately recruited Michael Foley, Australia's hooker in the successful 1999 World Cup squad, and together they went to work on fixing the set-pieces.
It is still a work in progress but the improvement is there for all to see.
Baxter and Dunning were cast aside after their Twickenham ordeal but have both learned from that experience and returned as much better players.
The pair will prop the Australian scrum on Sunday (NZ time) when the Wallabies open their World Cup campaign against Japan in Lyon, armed with improved techniques and the confidence they can now match any opposition.
"We're miles ahead from where we were before," Baxter told reporters. "We've never had a technical scrum coach or lineout coach before who is dedicated to the set pieces and that has made all the difference.
"I don't know if it'll be the difference between winning the final and not winning the final but certainly the whole tight five has got the mentality this year that we've got to set the platform.
"We've got a wonderful backline and a wonderful backrow and we've got to make sure we perform and give those guys the best ball we can."
Dunning said the best indication of Australia's improved scrum was the intense competition for places in the starting side.
"It's very competitive in the forward pack at the moment, you've got to play well to stay in this team," he said.
"I've been picked for the first game but I know if I don't play well I won't be here very long."
Australian team to play Japan
15-Chris Latham, 14-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13-Stirling Mortlock (captain), 12-Matt Giteau, 11-Lote Tuqiri, 10-Stephen Larkham, 9-George Gregan, 8-Wycliff Palu, 7-George Smith, 6-Rocky Elsom, 5-Dan Vickerman, 4-Nathan Sharpe, 3-Al Baxter, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Matt Dunning.
Replacements: 16-Adam Freier, 17-Guy Shepherdson, 18-Hugh McMeniman, 19-Stephen Hoiles, 20-Berrick Barnes, 21-Drew Mitchell, 22-Mark Gerrard.
- REUTERS
