England Out For Revenge as Australia Rivalry Heats Up Ahead of Quilter Nations Series Opener

This Saturday at Allianz Stadium, that fire burns again, as England open their Quilter Nations Series campaign against the Wallabies — a chance for revenge after last year’s 42–37 defeat on the same turf, sealed by a last-minute Max Jorgensen try.

But for Richard Wigglesworth, England’s senior assistant coach, there’s no sense of dwelling on the past — only learning from it. “It was frustrating,” he admits of last year’s narrow loss.

“Edge defence is dominated by what’s happened in the middle. There were some poor reads, sure, but we’ve made changes, and we’re clear on that now. We want our edges to be brave. You’re in bigger spaces with the best athletes in the world — you’ve got to be brave enough to make those one-on-ones.”

Wigglesworth knows all about bravery and resilience. Over the summer, he was part of the British & Irish Lions coaching staff that claimed a hard-fought 2–1 series victory in Australia — a campaign that gave him fresh insight into the Wallabies’ evolution under Joe Schmidt. “What Joe’s done incredibly well is coach their tight game,” Wigglesworth explains.

“When they get that bit right, they’re really hard to stop. It not only releases them through the middle but tightens you up and creates space for their great athletes out wide.”

That balance of power and pace makes Australia a dangerous proposition. And while the rivalry between the two countries stretches beyond rugby — with the rugby league Ashes continuing in Liverpool this weekend and the cricketing Ashes always looming large — Wigglesworth believes there’s mutual respect amid the competition.

“It’s a great rivalry because both sides love it,” he says with a grin. “We actually met Brendan McCullum and his staff a few weeks ago. It was great to talk coaching, mindset, and just the way both England teams want to get on the front foot.”

McCullum’s ‘Bazball’ revolution in cricket has redefined the way English sides think about risk and intent — themes that resonate in Steve Borthwick’s rugby setup, too. But Wigglesworth is quick to draw distinctions.

“They’re completely different sports,” he says. “What I love about rugby is that every game is different — it can be won in different ways. Is it wet? What’s the referee doing? What’s the scoreline? We want to be a team that can adapt, that can win in multiple ways. But yes, we feel we’ve got a dynamic team, and we want to play that way.”

That dynamism is something Wigglesworth now brings to the defensive side of the ball. Having transitioned from attack coach to a new all-encompassing role as senior coach, he’s clear that evolution, not overhaul, is the goal.

“What I’m not going to do is change everything because of what I believe,” he says. “It’s about what’s best for the players.

"We’ve looked at what’s made English teams successful defensively in the past — and we’re building from that. English defences traditionally go up, they get after you, and that’s what we want to rediscover.”

His meticulous approach — shaped by his time with the Lions and his long playing career — is already filtering through the squad. “I’m someone who enjoys learning,” he says. “Working with elite players, you can’t help but learn — they’re the best teachers. I loved my time with the Lions, learned loads, and I’ve brought a lot of that detail into what I do now, from planning to communication.”

That communication has been key, especially with younger players like Guy Pepper, the highly rated flanker who has earned his first start this weekend. “He’s been super impressive,” Wigglesworth says. “He’s diligent, tough, very coachable — and he deserves his shot. His game sense is really good, and he’s started the season brilliantly.”

Defensively, England will also rely on Freddie Steward’s calm presence at full-back. After some difficult moments in the past year, Wigglesworth believes Steward has turned a corner.

“Freddie’s worked really hard,” he says. “He’s added technical detail — how he sets his body, his positioning — and he’s improved his mindset too. He’s always been committed, but now he’s that bit sharper in those one-on-one situations. He’s been a pleasure to work with.”

Wigglesworth’s coaching philosophy — whether in attack or defence — comes back to empowerment. It’s a word he uses carefully. “You can’t just say ‘let’s empower the players’ and walk away,” he explains. “That’s setting them up to fail. You’ve got to build that clarity first, get the conversations going, and then you hand it over when they’re ready.

"The players rounded up the week themselves this time — that’s what you want. The more we know what everyone wants from each other, the better we’ll be.”

England’s preparation has been calm but confident. The Lions’ success and the recent Argentina tour have given players valuable experience, and Wigglesworth believes that mix of energy and depth is beginning to show. “Both groups have come back with a spring in their step,” he says. “You can feel it. We’re in a good place, but it’s about pushing on now.”