MAY: WE HAVE MORE IN TANK THAN CHAMPS
ENGLAND will have New Zealand’s number in time for the World Cup.
That was the bold prediction from Jonny May after an agonising one-point defeat by the world champions.
The England wing cast aside the frustration of a controversial loss after Sam Underhill’s late try was ruled out by the Television Match Official.
And he warned the All Blacks that England will be ready to exact revenge when it really matters at Japan 2019.
“My feeling is that we have played in tougher games,” said May.
“People didn’t give us much of a chance and we’ve definitely shown we are capable of doing it.
“I am convinced we’ve got more growth in us between now and the World Cup than them. Convinced.
“They’ve got so much experience and they’ve been together a lot longer than us.
“They will improve, of course they will, but I think we’ve got more growth in us. We are at the start of our season, we are missing players and we are only going to gain experience.
“There are some players to come back in and there are individual and team developments to come.”
The near-miss against New Zealand after backto-back wins against South Africa suggests the chariot is back on course after losing its bearings in the first half of 2018.
“It has been a tough year for this group and people probably thought our bubble might have popped, but we stayed tight within our group,” said May. “The games we lost were by fine margins and I think we will be stronger for going through that kind of patch and we are not as far off as people think.
“It is definitely a positive to come that close against New Zealand.”
Eddie Jones, smarting from an accusation by Japan captain Michael Leitch that he bullied players when he was in charge of the Brave Blossoms, delivered the following advice to England’s next opponents.
“Go to the temple and pray. We’re going to be absolutely ruthless,” said Jones.
“We want to smash Japan, physically smash them, because I know they’re going to come full of confidence.
“I’ve heard some of the things they’ve said, they’ve been a bit cheeky so look out.”
The England coach is likely to resist the temptation to experiment against the weakest of England’s autumn opponents, but he may have to make some enforced changes.
Dylan Hartley went off at half-time against New Zealand with a thumb injury, Courtney Lawes dislocated his thumb and George Kruis pulled a calf muscle.
Manu Tuilagi, who has missed the first two games with a groin strain, is also unlikely to feature.
“Probably not,” said Jones (inset).
“He’s 99.99 per cent and we won’t play him until he’s at 100.”