Duo provide lip service

Australian captain George Gregan believes Austin Healey, the controversial England wing, has something in common with the great David Campese.

However, it has nothing to do with playing ability.

Gregan sees a connection between the two wings and it has everything to do with their capacity to wind up the opposition with offthefield comments.

Campese, the greatest cap winner in Australian rugby history , and Healey, who called Wallaby lock Justin Harrison a "plank" and an "ape" on the summer Lions tour, dismay their teammates with unnecessary headline grabbing antics.

Campese was particularly critical of England's style of play during his career and since quitting the game has regularly attacked the rugby served up by international players.

Gregan, who leads Australia against England at Twickenham on Saturday, insists that having lived through the Campese times, his players will not be affected by what Healey has said in his newspaper columns and book.

Gregan said: "Different personalities are always present in team sports and we had Campo while over here it is Austin Healey. They have a particular point of view that they express and that's fine.

"It won't affect our preparations for Saturday's game and he has had very little effect on our team. We have had experience of this sort of thing in the Campo era and we don't make much of it at all."

England captain Neil Back is aiming to mark his first game in charge at Twickenham by getting the last word in - ahead of Healey his Leicester team mate.

Back said: "This job is only pressure if you think that's what it is and I don't feel any additional pressure at all. I'm always very vocal in Test week. Not a lot has changed, only that now I've often got the final word if I can beat Austin to it."

Healey is one of four of Back's club-mates - the others being Dorian West, Graham Rowntree and Ben Kay - in the starting lineup and the captain believes it could be crucial.

"I'm from Leicester. We're a winning side, we've got a winning mentality," said Back. "We're ruthless."