Jones wary of Samoa after record Wallaby win
EDDIE Jones insisted he could yet field England’s strongest side against cash-strapped Samoa after they beat his native Australia 30-6 at Twickenham.
The match against the Wallabies on Saturday was always going to be the centrepiece of an end-of-year home series for England that started with a 21-8 win over Argentina and concludes with the November 25 fixture against the Pacific islanders.
Earlier on their European tour, Samoa responded to the Samoa Rugby Union’s bankruptcy declaration with a battling display in a 44-38 defeat by Scotland. And after England beat Australia by 24 points, their largest winning-margin over the Wallabies, coach Jones was coy about making wholesale changes against Samoa in a bid to increase squad depth ahead of the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
“Samoa’s a difficult team. If you give them a bit at the start of the game, they literally grow another leg,” he said.
Jones was delighted by the way England adapted to the rainy conditions against Australia at Twickenham, the hosts scoring four tries to none from the Wallabies.
England were only 6-3 up when Elliot Daly crossed in the 54th minute after officials could not be certain that flyhalf George Ford’s kick ahead had found touch.
It was one of several key decisions that went England’s way, with referee Ben O’Keeffe sending both Australia captain Michael Hooper and Kurtley Beale to the sin-bin.
The New Zealander also disallowed tries by flanker Hooper and wing Marika Koroibete for offside.
England capitalised with three tries in the last eight minutes. – AFP