Scrumhalf Nic White says the Wallabies won’t be baited into needless off-the-ball scrapping with England in this weekend’s series decider.
After Australia won the opening encounter at Optus Stadium in Perth, 30-28, the English came back strong in the second, winning it 25-17, to level the series at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
The two matches have been confrontational affairs, the first seeing Darcy Swain cop a red card for a headbutt on Jonny Hill.
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The second clash saw Ellis Genge lean his forearm on White as he lay on the ground, which was only penalised after the TMO belatedly got involved.
Asked of the physicality brought Down Under by the opposition, White said he was somewhat taken aback.
“Yeah, probably a little bit surprised, but like I said, it’s two teams going at it,” White told media on Tuesday.
“Like I said last week, it’s pretty harmless in terms of the words out there. It’s just two guys going at it, two teams going at it.
“We’ll expect the same this weekend, them coming after us. It’s just part of the game.
“Hopefully, we’ll look to start the game a little bit more physical up front, but we won’t be baited into that off-the-ball stuff, we’ll leave that for those boys.”
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Of his clash with Genge, White added, “Leaning on me with an elbow is a nice way to put it.
“Look, Ellis has got it in his game. We’re two guys who know each other from playing in the [Premiership]. Certainly, we’re just two competitors going at it.
“He’s a good man, great player, he’s a real talisman for England. I knew if he gets a chance to get his hands on he’d have a crack at me.
“There’s nothing malic[ious] in terms of words or anything. It’s just he’s got a chance to get his hands on me and he thought he’d make it known.
“That’s just rugby and I’d expect nothing less this weekend.”
England prop tramples Hooper
The opening try of the second match by Billy Vunipola prompted a surprising outburst by Genge, who repeatedly slapped Wallabies captain Michael Hooper on the chest.
Hooper was unwavering in his response, notwithstanding a raise of his hand as if to question the move.
White said players have to be cautious not to be drawn into incidents like those with Genge, especially considering the precedent set by Swain’s red card.
“You just have to be careful right around these areas how you retaliate,” White explained.
“Obviously, with the Genge one, I was certainly being asked to calm down. I thought I was pretty measured in that. Obviously, as you saw what happened, then the penalty went the other way,” White said.
“You have to be careful. Certainly, I don’t want anyone running in. There’s a fair bit of niggle, but like I said, we won’t be buying into that. At the end of the day, it’s a game of rugby, and the only thing that matters is who wins.
“We know there’ll be a fair bit of niggle. There has been in the first two games and there will be in this game, but we’ll be doing our best just to concentrate on the rugby side of things.”
The series decider takes place on Saturday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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