New low from rattled Aussies

Australia's efforts to destabilise England ahead of Saturday's Rugby World Cup Final hit a new low today.

After weeks of sniping and insults, one of the biggest newspapers in Sydney, the Daily Telegraph, is asking its readers to cut out a voodoo doll in the shape of Jonny Wilkinson.

The doll has helpful hints as to where the best sounds of pain would be elicited when the needle is inserted into the England dangerman's most tender areas.

This follows on from a campaign dreamed up on the beach in front of the England team hotel in Manly with a picture of Wilkinson with a red line through it urging everyone to keep "boring" rugby out of the area.

Needless to say, the England squad and Wilkinson in particular, are highly amused by these crass attempts to try and portray the World Cup finalists as the most unwelcome visitors to these shores since the arrival of the First Fleet.

While it is easy to dismiss the various stunts as good natured banter and mind games, what underlines it all is a genuine concern in Australia that England, who are favourites to take the title, are just too good for the hosts.

That concern will inevitably increase with the news that the weather is likely to play into England's hands, too. The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting rain and wind just before kick-off on Saturday which should suit England's Wilkinson-inspired kicking game and work against Australia who want to play a more expansive match.

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones threw down a challenge to his opposite number Clive Woodward today by insisting his players were ready to throw the ball around and help create a fantastic spectacle - if England agree to join in.

Jones said: "We will keep our side of the bargain and, if England and the referee keep theirs, then it could be the world's greatest ever match."

Jones said that Wilkinson had not warranted special attention in the build-up to the final. "We have probably spoken less about him than any other member of their team," added Jones. "We have been looking at the guys around him who allow Wilkinson the opportunities to kick the points. We are not blowing him out of proportion."

Meanwhile, Woodward revealed that England will take inspiration from the formidable fighting spirit of the Royal Marines in the final.

The England coach believes he learnt a vital lesson when his players were put through their paces by the Marines in the build-up to the 1999 cup campaign.

Having failed to get past the quarter-finals four years ago, Woodward pinpointed what made the Marines so effective when they are under intense pressure and has utilised this knowledge in this current challenge.

Woodward said: "I remember a few years ago we were training with the Royal Marines and I was speaking with a senior officer who said their preparation is without parallel and that is why they are the best. Their mindset is that when they jump out of a helicopter they believe that they know what is going to happen.

"But the secret of success is that if it doesn't happen that way they have just got to be able to adjust immediately and that is what I like to think that England do.

"We have really worked on that and our preparation, so when the guys run out on Saturday night and we cross that line, we like to feel we know how the game is going to unfold. However, if it doesn't, we then have to change things through the 80 minutes. It is a great comparison with the Marines about how your mindset has got to be."