As it did last year, the Wallabies’ reputation has preceded them for the clash with old foes England at Twickenham this weekend.

Last year, the Wallabies’ collapse at the 2023 World Cup, and struggles in the early days of the Joe Schmidt reign, translated to comparatively lukewarm demand for tickets from the England faithful. There were several thousand unsold seats, which doesn’t sound like much at an 82,000-seat stadium, but given England games used to have enough demand to sell out two or three times over, it was noteworthy enough to make the local papers.

But then Max Jorgensen and that Wallabies’ boilover unfolded, their first against England in London in a decade. This year’s strong showings in the Lions series and in the Rugby Championship served to enhance that reputation, too.

So this year the Wallabies’ visit is a hot ticket again, and barring the odd single seat, Twickenham is sold out. The joint will be rocking and having heard the huge stadium noise reduced to a beautiful, low-decibel hum last year, the Wallabies will be desperate to do it again. Australia haven’t posted consecutive wins at Twickenham since 2008-09.

But the problem for the Wallabies as far silencing Twickenham again is several key players will be sitting in those same stands, twiddling their thumbs. One........

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