Wallabies assistant coach Stephen Larkham has lit the fuse ahead of this weekend's clash against England, suggesting his former mentor Eddie Jones is "spoilt" and that all the pressure is on him because of the "unlimited buckets of cash" the RFU has at its disposal.



The build-up to Saturday's match has been more subdued than in recent times. With Jones and Michael Cheika usually unable to bite their tongues, last year there was extra spice to the four matches between the sides – all won by England.

Larkham has stayed quiet about Jones in the past but this time sent a warning to his former Wallabies coach that he was expected to deliver given the resources at his disposal.



"They've had a lot of close games that they've won so he's done a good job in that respect," Larkham said. "But, if you look at the resources they have over here, he's probably a little bit spoilt from where he's come from.

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ANDREW BOYERS/REUTERS England head coach Eddie Jones said his side will have to improve on their showing against Argentina.

"There's always going to be pressure when you've got … pretty much unlimited resources around you.



"And what he's got now, I think the facilities are top-class and they've got plenty of resources in and around the team to make the most of the situation."

Pressed on what resources he would like to have at his disposal that Rugby Australia could not afford, Larkham said: "Their facilities. Pennyhill Park is pretty phenomenal and then just the amount of staff they can have, consultants coming in, squad sizes, players to choose from and support from the RFU.

"Anything they want, they pretty much get. I mean, not that we don't get that. I think the ARU [now Rugby Australia] try to give us everything they can but there's not an unlimited bucket of money."



It is a subtle dig at Jones from Larkham and the first sign of mind games heading into a fixture that both teams are desperate to win.



As England coach, Jones has won 20 from 21 tests. By comparison, the Wallabies have tasted success in 12 of their previous 21 matches, with two draws against South Africa.



Jones has stated his desire to win the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and all of his planning and rhetoric is built around doing well at rugby's showpiece event.



Larkham said Jones was putting even more pressure on himself by continuing to say that was his one job as England boss.



"Yeah, that [pressure] comes with it, doesn't it?" Larkham said. "When you've got all those resources and you've had the record that you've had, that's the expectation. That's where the pressure comes from."



For as much noise as there is pre-test from both camps, Larkham is adamant the Wallabies can shut it out and continue their seven-game unbeaten streak.



"We're very focused on just trying to concentrate on our game," Larkham said. "We've had a bit of a run the last seven games and we're trying to build that belief internally. There's plenty of distractions off the field and there certainly will be leading into the game; at the stadium itself, the general public and then obviously what's written in the media."



Jones coached Australia from 2001 to 2005 for a return of 33 wins from 57 Tests. Larkham played in 43 of those outings and knows better than most what is going on in the mind of one of world rugby's great thinkers.



"Eddie was very good at identifying what a player goes through and we spent a bit of time analysing the game together," Larkham said. "[He had] a very technical mind, no doubt about that. He was into the nuts and bolts of everything.



"He also had that ability to sit back and probably look at the bigger picture."