Jones is hellbent on his England becoming world’s best
EDDIE JONES said last night his England invincibles will not rest until they have won the World Cup after signing off the perfect year in style with victory over Australia.
Despite winning all 13 Tests in 2016, and a fourth on the spin against the Wallabies, the coach demanded more from his players, saying none would make a World XV on current form.
‘Just because we have won 13 games there is not one player who would be automatically be picked in a World XV – that is a world-class player,’ he said.
‘We can’t get too ahead of ourselves. We’re only the number two team in the world and we want to be number one. We’ve got a long way to go before we achieve that. And we’re hellbent on achieving that.
‘We’ve got the talent here. It’s just whether we get the desire and cohesion right. That’s what we’re aiming to do.’
And after equalling the English record of 14 consecutive Test wins set by Clive Woodward’s 2002-03 team, Jones said his side are nowhere near as good as the vintage that won the World Cup.
‘The 2003 side were a much better side than we are at the moment,’ he added.
‘They had a very consistent scrum and line-out, we don’t have that yet but we are getting there but they were a much better side than we are.
‘We have got until November 2, 8pm Japan
time 2019 to get ready and that is what we are aiming at – we have got to be at our best that night. It is 1020 days.
‘Every day counts. If players don’t challenge themselves they won’t be here and that is the reality of it.’
Ben Youngs was the star as England won yet again. The scrum-half scored a sumptuous try, taking a quick tap penalty and dummying opposite number Nick Phipps before racing to the line.
Jonathan Joseph scored twice and kicked a superb assist for Marland Yarde’s score and Owen Farrell hit all six of his kicks to keep the Wallabies at bay.
The visitors had led 10-0 after 15 minutes, with a Sefanaia Naivalu converted score and Bernard Foley penalty as England scrambled early on.
The Australian out-half kicked two more goals before half-time but the Wallabies could only manage five points in the second half, through a Sekope Kepu try, as England turned the screw.
The Wallabies suffered a ninth loss in 15 Tests in 2016, four to England. Their coach Michael Cheika, who had a war of words with Jones all week, said: ‘We finished the season last year in the same dressing room after a loss (World Cup final).
‘We’ve had two disappointing finishes to ’15 and ’16, but we’ve definitely improved as a