Former protege Olly Barkley has laughed off as gamesmanship Australian coach John Connolly's inflammatory claims that England may resort to questionable tactics in Saturday's Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Marseille.

Connolly, a confessed mischief maker, stirred the pot once again when he singled out England's selection of 35-year-old Mark Regan as a niggling player, telling a packed press conference he had alerted the Irish referee controlling the crunch match to keep close tabs on the abrasive frontrower.

"England picking Regan at hooker delivers an intent. We've spoken to Paddy O'Brien to ensure he behaves himself, just to ensure the game's fair, clean," Connolly said.

The Australians have spoken about the prospect of some in the English pack using roughhouse tactics to unsettle the Wallabies in a desperate attempt to keep their title hopes alive.

But Barkley, who is favoured to replace the injured Andy Farrell at inside centre following the dual international's withdrawal with a calf strain, said Connolly's words were typical - and nothing for his side to worry about.

"It doesn't surprise me, him starting rumours," said Barkley, who played under Connolly in English Premiership rugby.

"I love it. I had a really good time when he was at Bath. I'm sure he did it with a smile on his face.

"I know Knuckles. It's part of his preparation for a game. I always find it very amusing. He's very good at that."

Indeed, Connolly's playful attempts at gamesmanship should be the least of England's concerns after their campaign suffered another major setback with Farrell's late scratching.

"It's not an ideal scenario for a team to announce someone is not making a game he is picked for, (and) it's tough for Andy," conceded champion five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson.

Although Barkley is tipped to replace Farrell in the England No.12 jumper, Wilkinson said he expected to be consulted about the key selection issue.

"But there are two days left (until the match) and it will be crucial for us to get together and get on each other's wavelength," he said.

Wilkinson, the man who broke Australian hearts with his extra-time drop goal to sink the Wallabies in the 2003 World Cup final in Sydney, again looms as England's most likely saviour after battling his way back from four largely injury-riddled seasons.

"I think I am definitely different, but not in the way I thought I would be four years ago," the 28-year-old superboot said.

"I would have hoped to have played more games and done my learning on the pitch week in, week out.

"I've done my learning down a different route and it has made me a different player.

"You give greater awareness to what the occasion means, not taking it for granted and (you gain) a deeper respect for these games.

"Coming into the game the nerves will be the same, but my strengths are different at 28 to 24."

But he refused to consider - publicly at least - whether he still had the nerve to perform national heroics under the weight of a nation's expectations.

"I don't tend to buy into it because you can't control it," Wilkinson said when asked if he was still up to handling the intense pressures of World Cup rugby.

"At the end of the game, you close the door, look into the hotel mirror and think 'did I stand up and do everything I could do?

"Is it (the match result) a fair reflection of me?'"

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