Alex Gregory admitted the Britain men's four's defeat against their arch-rivals on the 1972 Olympic course had been a "kick up the backside".

While the two fastest crews in the world will meet again in the final, Britain are determined to lay down a marker heading into the Olympic Games.

The rivalry between the Australians and Britain's flagship crew of Gregory, who was a member of the World Championship-winning four last year, and his fellow crew Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed and Tom James, who all won gold in the four at the Beijing Games, is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the Olympic rowing programme.

"I am not happy with today's race but it is not a bad thing," Gregory said.

"It gives us a kick up the backside and more motivation.

"It is always nice to win races and we always want to win races - but there is one race we have to win this year and that is not tomorrow, that is at the Olympics on August 4.

"Everything is just stepping stones to that, small steps along the way."

Australia's crew of William Lockwood, James Chapman, Drew Ginn and Joshua Dunkley-Smith opened a length lead by the halfway mark.

Britain succeeded in overhauling the Australians in similar circumstances at last month's Lucerne World Cup regatta to take the gold medal.

But on this occasion Britain left themselves with too much to do, despite a strong sprint finish.

"It's tough out there," James said.

"You can't make slip-ups.

"Tomorrow is another opportunity, it is not panic stations, they are a quick crew but we have to row better than that.

"A win tomorrow would be a very significant step and give us a platform going forward.

"Whatever happens we will know where we are compared to the opposition.

"Whenever you have two boats going head to head there is rivalry.

"It is important to put a good race together and give ourselves that benchmark."


Meanwhile the Australian women's double pose the biggest threat to Britain's double world champions Anna Watkins (pictured above left), and Katherine Grainger (pictured above right), who are unbeaten in 20 races.

Britain claimed their first medals of the regatta today, with Paul Mattick and Adam Freeman Pask winning gold in the lightweight men's pairs, a non-Olympic class.

The British lightweight double of Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase continued their return to form after a disappointing performance in Lucerne by winning their semi-final.

The world and Olympic champions beat France into second place in a time that was four seconds quicker than key gold medal rivals New Zealand recorded in the other semi-final.

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