LONDON: England World Cup-winning centre Will Greenwood has called Australia's "internal focus" bluff, adamant the Wallabies want to rub the hosts' noses in what would be an embarrassing exit from the tournament.
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Greenwood also says it has to be "absolutely unthinkable" for England's players to contemplate the fallout of losing to Australia.
The Wallabies have a chance to deliver a killer blow to England's World Cup hopes when the teams clash at Twickenham on Saturday night (Sunday morning AEST).
A Wallabies win would make England the first World Cup host nation to be eliminated from the tournament before the quarter-finals.
But the game is delicately poised with an England triumph set to put the Wallabies on the back foot ahead of their last pool game.
The Wallabies are sticking by their mantra of only concentrating on themselves, deflecting questions about the pressure on England.
"That's not my domain, I'm not the tournament organiser," coach Michael Cheika said when asked what would be the damage to the tournament if the Wallabies beat England.
But Greenwood, who started in the 2003 final against Australia, said the Wallabies are simply publicly trying to avoid being drawn into England's dire situation.
"Clearly the Wallabies have analysed England and they've come up with a way they think they can beat them," Greenwood said.
"They'll be looking at ways to break them down, but they won't be worrying about the strife England are in.
"It's Australia's World Cup as much as it is England's. You're the host nation but that doesn't give you a divine right. Australians love nothing more than to get stuck in when they're on top."
The pool of death is set up for an epic finish to the group stage of the tournament.
If England can regroup and beat the Wallabies, there will be three teams fighting for quarter-final spots in the last game of the pool.
England, Australia and Wales are all in contention, but a Wallabies win against England would end the competition.
"The closer you get to the [Australia-England game], the harder it is to call," Greenwood said. "It's one of those Cup-defining moments for both teams. But it has to be viewed in the England camp as absolutely unthinkable to leave the field as beaten men on Saturday.
"They just have to focus on getting a win against Australia and getting right back in the mix – just don't leave the field a beaten man. Whatever that takes."
The Wallabies have called Ben McCalman on to the bench to replace the physical presence of giant lock Will Skelton, who will return to Australia after injuring his pectoral.
