The news is another insult to the beleaguered England team, who have been widely criticised throughout Australia for taking a weakened side on their southern hemisphere tour.

Australian Rugby Union Chief Executive, John O'Neill, said: "Are we going to have a Centenary Test like the one on Saturday night? No way in the world."

Though troubled by injuries, including one to captain Matt Dawson days before Saturday's Test, many England players have stayed at home altogether.

As the team prepares for their next match, against a New Zealand featuring Jonah Lomu, England have yet to prove that they can come close to rugby's best sides.

The tour follows debate over the number of games played by top players, a problem that has prompted England's Five Nations captain Lawrence Dallaglio, left behind for the tour because of exhaustion, to announce a deal with Wasps to play a maximum of 35 games next season.

Appealing to other players to do likewise, he said: "It remains to be seen whether other clubs are prepared to take tough decisions and give their stars a break occasionally."