1
'It doesn't give me any pleasure and I never reflect on it'
By PA
England's rugby side are in a rut, but coach Eddie Jones says they will become a special team if they come up trumps in Australia.
The pressure is firmly on Jones following England's failed Six Nations campaign and this week's embarrassing 52-21 loss to the Barbarians.
Jones led England to a 3-0 series victory in Australia in 2016.
It was the first time England had won a Test series in Australia, and Jones has gone on to compile a dominant 8-0 record against the Wallabies as coach of England.
Jones faces a tough ask to repeat those heroics given England's struggles, but he is imploring his team to grasp the opportunity that lays ahead.
"Australia is a place where you can become a special team," Jones said. "You just look at the record between Australian and English sporting teams.
"We've got 10 blokes here who have done it before, being the only English rugby team to win in Australia.
"You find out a lot about the players. And for the players, it's a great opportunity for them to be part of something special."
Jones said it was imperative for his side to take the battle up to the Wallabies.
"We're going to have to be really aggressive against the Aussies, because they come at you," Jones said.
Jones was quick to dismiss his 8-0 record against the Wallabies as England coach.
"It doesn't give me any pleasure and I never reflect on it," he said. "We don't start with any advantage. It's not like the Stawell Gift where we get a 20-metre head start on the opposition because of the record.
"We've got good players in our team. We've been able to play a style of rugby that probably doesn't suit Australia, and counteract their strengths.
"Australian rugby is traditionally attacking, they like to move the ball, there's a lot of lateral ball movement.
"We've been able to counter that, and then find ways to score points against th em."
Jones predicts Australia will continu e with a fast-paced style of game.
"I'm sure Australia won't be encouraging too many lineouts in the game," he said. "Their general pattern against us is that they don't kick out, they kick in.
"And with Nic White potentially at nine and Quade Cooper at 10, they might continually play that long kicking game."
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Rassie Erasmus holds the solution to England's Jamie George conundrum
3
The Springboks have something you don't have
4
'I don't think Borthwick picks Willis even if he's playing in England'
5
Latest Comments
You have to have dreams to reach for the stars, but without believing it, it won't ever happen. It's one thing to say things to the media, quite another to believe what you regurgitate just for the journalists and the public. No one is fooled, and it's the one game they knew Wales will get smashed. The Boks won 10 games without being at their best. Even on their baddest day they will smash this Wales team.
I don't really blame the players. I blame the WRU. Their best players is not available due to restrictions, small change as pay and an overly believe in their own power that amounts to nothing. Get rid of them and Gatland, and maybe their will be an upwards curve. They will lose against the Boks, and also all the games in the 6N if they keep the current board. Italy will be able to smash them.
Go to commentsFrance is starting to look like they are finally over their WC headache, although they were lucky that NZ had a very bad game. The Argies as usual is one game good, the next bad. If they can sort that out and be more consistent, they could become contenders for the WC.
NZ, Argentina (if they are more consistent), and now the Wallabies too is in an upward curve (can they be consistent?), as well as Fiji(as inconsistent as Argentina) looks like possible contenders. The Boks will be as usual a huge threat to defend their title. Things are looking up for the South, so the North should rightfully beware of the Southern Hemisphere threat.
With the French looking dangerous, the English with their close runs (mostly a mindset problem) and the Scottish seems to be the NH main contenders. The Irish is good, but not excellent anymore. They are more overbearing and with their glory days mostly gone with old players hanging on by a thread, by 2027 if they don't start adding in the younger players, they won't make it past yet another WC Quarter final. The problem is that their youngsters, while good is nothing special.
That is just 8 teams without the Irish that can become real WC contenders. Lots of hickups to be sorted still for these teams, excluding the Boks to become a threat. Make no mistake, the top Tier is much closer than people realise and the 2027 WC will be a really great WC, possibly the best contended WC ever.
Go to comments