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Subscribe to RSS FeedRegan eager for action
Marked Man: Regan promises plenty of bite but no bark
England hooker Mark Regan has vowed to be fierce and physical in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final showdown with Australia, but promises to keep his mouth shut in Marseille.
The Wallabies have indicated a strong concern that England could push the boundaries of what is acceptable in a bid to unsettle them at the Stade Velodrome on Saturday.
Regan is particularly good at winding up opponents, and his name cropped up in Australia coach John Connolly's meeting with match referee Alain Rolland and IRB referees manager Paddy O'Brien.
After last June's second Test in South Africa, Springbok hooker John Smit joked that Regan "had talked to me more in two matches than my wife has in ten years".
The Wallabies also raised concerns over Regan's throwing at the line-out, but privately he has laughed off the comments as mischief-making.
Regan is concerning himself only with that first scrum and the chance for a powerful England pack to lock horns with an improving Australian scrum.
"I am looking forward immensely to the first scrum of the day and I am hoping there will be many of them," said Regan.
"I love the physical side of the game, especially when I have got people like Andrew Sheridan, Simon Shaw and Phil Vickery amongst my friends.
"It is why I am here. I will let my rugby do the talking this weekend.
"We have a huge pack and it is an area of the game that will be thoroughly tested."
The Wallabies have trebled the amount of time spent working, analysing and studying their scrummaging since Michael Foley, the former Bath coach, took over.
In 2005, the Wallabies were put through the mincer by England at Twickenham. It was a performance which forced a drastic rethink into the Wallabies' forward game.
Regan conceded: "They have improved. They have some good guys in there and under the tuition of Michael Foley things have improved immensely."
Regan is content with England's progress so far but he accepts they need to be "hugely better" to defeat the Australians and reach the World Cup semi-final.
"Things are going in the right direction. We need to hit top gear at the weekend," said Regan.
"We will be driven on by the underdog spirit and knowing we can perform to a better level.
"We will come out with all pistons driving."
