Brendan Cannon saw enough in his playing career alongside Nathan Grey with the Waratahs and Wallabies to know the Australian assistant coach is the perfect man to organise and prepare Australia's defensive line. Cannon, who was capped 42 times from 2001-06, said Grey was known for his physicality in the centres during a 35-Test career that included the World Cup win of 1999 and the campaign that ended in heartbreak in the final four years later. "Our defence is all about character," Cannon said. "And Nathan Grey, having played with him, was one of the greatest players I loved playing with. You can see any side that he is involved with has that character, that passion and pride for their try line."

Cannon believes that same trait was evident in Australia's 33-13 demolition of England at Twickenham last weekend, especially in the second half. "They really hung in some pretty difficult periods, particularly in that second half when I thought the Wallabies started to go a little slightly away from the game plan," Cannon said. "[There were] a couple of cheeky chip kicks and I thought, 'Why go away from what worked so well in the first half,' and then England had big periods of momentum. They started to chip away at the scoreboard and got to 20-13 and I thought, 'If they get another point one side is going to start to tighten up and one side is going to play with a little more ambition'."

Eventually, the Wallabies broke free to win in what Cannon labels a "monumental feat". Cannon was also happy to note that it was a feat helped by a strong Wallabies scrum. "It was really pleasing to see the eight move as one forwards," he said. "We gave away some penalties in the first half for pushing before the ball feed … as a coach you might be disappointed, but you love the intent and the attitude of that."

With Australia's next game against Wales at Twickenham on Sunday (2.45am AEDT) Cannon says the challenge is "to put aside the euphoria of last weekend" and prepare for it as if it is a knockout round.

What a feeling

It had been a long time since Cannon felt as excited about a Test as he did about the match between Australia and England. "I genuinely had nerves in the pit of my stomach leading up to it," said Cannon, 42, who watched with Waratahs prop Benn Robinson, a seasoned Wallabies player who missed World Cup selection. "When the boys got on the field … we were both going, 'Mate, I have never felt like this for a long time,' as a former player watching the game. It was edgy stuff, like really toey. As the game went on we were cheering and carrying on every time they scored or kicked a goal."

What's doing Wallabies

Training after a rest day with coach Michael Cheika to settle on his back row after Michael Hooper's one-week ban, and possible replacements for injured backs Israel Folau (ankle), Rob Horne (shoulder) and Matt Giteau (ribs).

Making news

"Fijian power proves too much for brave underdogs" - London's telegraph.co.uk headline signalled the end of Fiji and Uruguay in the World Cup on Wednesday (AEDT) with Fiji bowing out 47-15 winners over Uruguay.

"Romania captain Mihai Macovei dedicates win to bereaved coach"- in their moment of glory after beating Canada 17-15 on Wednesday (AEDT), espn.co.uk on Macovei's gesture to forwards coach Marius Tincu whose mother died recently.

They said it

"They've earned the right for a beer. There's a limit. They'll have a beer but it won't be to a great extent. It'll be in the team room and we'll have control over them," Romania coach Lynn Howells in dailymail.co.uk on his players after their win over Canada.

What to watch

Thursday/overnight: South Africa v USA – London (2.45am AEDT), Namibia v Georgia – Exeter (6am AEDT)

Friday: No games scheduled (AEDT)