Australia’s scrummaging demolition of England at Twickenham 12 days ago proved among the most unexpected rugby happenings in 2008.

And 32-year-old Gough, who replaces his injured Ospreys colleague Ian Evans in the second-row this weekend, accepts it was no mean feat.

He said: “I played against an England pack that was pretty tough at Twickenham last season, and the Wallabies took the English pack apart a few weeks ago.

“That is a big flag to put down.

“Sometimes you get a tag and it is hard to lose it, but we won’t be underestimating their pack - we are not falling into that trap.

“They have great players like Nathan Sharpe, who is up there with the likes of Victor Matfield, Ali Williams and Bakkies Botha as one of the best second-rows in the world.

“It is going to be tough.

“Australia are like a magician’s sleeve in that there is always something ready to be pulled out. They also always come at you until the final whistle.”