Violent tone marks build-up to Ashes Test

There was no doubt, when the celebrities of previous Tests in Sydney gathered this week to celebrate the return of a great tradition, just which aspect of Ashes rivalry they were looking forward to.

As former British and Australian players compared memories, the dominant theme was not one of flowing rugby but of the violence that has punctuated their meetings on the field.

Even Ron Coote, regarded as the most gentlemanly Australian player of his generation, looked across fondly at the old British scrum-half Tommy Bishop and recalled the day "I kicked the little mongrel up the arse.''

Bishop himself was asked about the time he was accused of manhandling a touch judge and the guests grunted in appreciation at the footage of Malcolm Reilly thrusting his knee into the unfortunate full-back, Allan McKean, in 1970.

Another to figure prominently in the rogues' gallery that dominated proceedings was Cliff Watson, another member of the last British pack to come home with the Ashes 32 years ago and resident in Australia for most of the time since.

"There is only one way to beat the Australians,'' he said, after the audience had finished applauding old newsreel of his assorted misdemeanours and sendings-off. "You have got to get in there and thump them. If you let them run at you, they'll annihilate you. It's always been the same; if you belt them, they don't like it.''

It is 10 years since anyone belted anyone in an Ashes Test in Sydney, so tomorrow's warriors have a lot of catching up to do. The mood of anticipation in the city is more to do with the prospect of a bit of traditional "biff'' than with the prospect of a game of rugby.

Rightly or wrongly, the current British side is thought to be capable of providing its share of the aggression. Such has been the concentration on the game's potential for flashpoints that Terry O'Connor, the Wigan prop who has been involved in two of the most spectacular incidents in recent years, as the injured party in both cases, has been in particular demand from the media.

O'Connor has been on the receiving end from the fists of Gordon Tallis and the boot of another of tomorrow's opponents, Jason Stevens, in recent Tests. "People have been reminding me, but I haven't been talking about it,'' he said. "I have stopped answering my room phone, because I just want to concentrate on doing my job.''

But doing your job in rugby league brings you into conflict with some of sport's most aggressive temperaments. Although O'Connor said after being thumped by Tallis that his grandmother hit harder, he will expect similar attention tomorrow if passions boil over.

Then there is Stevens, a born-again Christian, suspended from one of last autumn's Tests in England after trampling on O'Connor's face and brought back for this one specifically because, as one selector put it: "He scared the Poms pretty good last time.''

O'Connor begs to differ on that point. "He didn't even spoil my good looks,'' he said.

All the same, O'Connor will be pleased to have his great mate, Barrie McDermott, alongside him in the British front row if hostilities do break out. McDermott also featured in that greatest hits compilation earlier this week, for his infamous taking out of Paul Sironen, another of the day's lunch guests, in 1994. "I was 22 then and trying to make a name for myself,'' said McDermott, who now likes to be regarded as a reformed character.

The Great Britain coach, David Waite, says it will do his side "no harm at all'' to have seen the raw emotion that has marked so many of the meetings between the two sides.

The captain, Andy Farrell, is also prepared for passions to run high, especially in the early stages. "After that, I'd like to think there will be some good rugby played.''

Before that, the likes of O'Connor and McDermott will have to establish mastery over their immediate opponents, Shane Webcke and Jason Ryles, who are ill matched in one sense. Webcke declined to tour last year in the wake of 11 September, while Ryles said he would play in Afghanistan if necessary. That apart, they complement each other well and will lack nothing in combined aggression.

"It could be a really fiery affair," said Farrell. Sydney will be distinctly disappointed if it is not.

St Helens players in the Great Britain party have admitted concern about the news that their coach, Ian Millward, could be in line to leave them for a job with Wests-Tigers in Sydney.

"I have been trying to contact him,'' said Britain's hooker, Keiron Cunningham. "It would be a big blow, but he has to do what is right for him and his family. Whatever he does, the players will be 100 per cent behind him, the way he has always been for us.''