'Bring It On!' English Swimmers Brace For Aussie Assault

'Bring it on!' English swimmers brace for Aussie assault

Gold Coast, Australia, April 4 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Apr, 2018 ) :England's swimmers are ready to fight fire with fire at the Commonwealth Games when they clash with a fearsome Australia team revved up by their home crowd.

The English, spearheaded by Olympic breaststroke champion Adam Peaty, expect a rude reception from the Australians when the competition begins Friday, but their swimming boss promised they will rise to the occasion.

"Australia are a powerhouse, they're the team to beat," team leader Grant Robins told AFP in an interview. "They're strong across pretty much all the events and have a production line of swimming quality." "It's going to be a hostile crowd," added the former Commonwealth Games competitor.

"We've said 'You're going to walk out here and it's going to be a hostile crowd'.

We've said to the swimmers 'Stick to your game plan, soak up the atmosphere -- but don't be afraid of it!' It will be fun and enjoyable, but tough." Australian athletes can be every bit as spiky as their crowds and the aggressive antics of their cricketers have sparked a public outcry following a recent ball-tampering scandal.

Aussie swimmers are no shrinking violets either, but Robins insisted there would be "mutual respect" between the home team and their English rivals on the pool deck. "It's a hard sport," he said.

"But once you get to the cool room (before the race) there's no limits, it's every man for themselves. "But the Australian crowd are very well informed, they appreciate good quality racing and hopefully we can deliver and get a round of applause for appreciation if nothing else."