Jones tells rising stars they must take last chance
EDDIE JONES may have swung open England’s doors to a swathe of thirsty youngsters in San Juan on Saturday, but he warned they are already drinking in the last-chance saloon.
The head coach handed 10 players their debuts, the most uncapped men fielded in an England Test for 61 years. It turned out to be a stunning victory.
But while he was impressed with his new charges, Jones said the second Test in Santa Fe on Saturday will be their last chance to force a way into his World Cup plans for 2019.
‘They have to understand that they may only get one game to have the opportunity to show they are good enough to be in contention for the World Cup,’ said Jones, whose next squad, named in August, will be the first selected with Japan directly in mind. ‘I would think 80 per cent of the World Cup squad will come from the next 45-man squad,’ Jones said.
England had just stunned a fullyloaded Puma team, Denny Solomona racing past three defenders to silence the Estadio del Bicentenario 100 seconds from time.
The rugby league convert had to atone for three horrendous defensive lapses which led directly to two tries. He did, ending his debut just about in credit, as did the nine other rookies.
Three of them made key contributions to the dramatic Solomona score — Nick Isiekwe claiming the lineout, Jack Maunder spinning two glorious passes wide, and Piers Francis giving the wing space, which was all Solomona needed to complete his remarkable zero-to-hero turnaround.
Chris Robshaw, recovered from an ankle injury, may struggle to make the XV, such was the impact of Newcastle’s Mark Wilson.
‘He is a very similar player to Robshaw, one of those tough, uncompromising, glue-type players who does the unseen things,’ said Jones. revelation.’
The England back row was excellent. Nathan Hughes bashed his way around the park, and Wilson worked in tandem with 18-yearold Tom Curry, the youngest English starter for 90 years.
George Ford had his best afternoon for England for a long time, too. He scored 23 points, only missing the conversion to his scintillating try — a wonderful one-two with Francis, the Auckland Blues playmaker.
England trailed at half-time. Then it went mad, with Jonny May, Jeronimo de la Fuente and Joaquin Tucelet all scoring in the space of five minutes. Ford wrestled it back, his penalty and try levelling the scores.
Juan Martin Hernandez hit a hasty drop-goal with three minutes to go, rather than run down the clock. That proved costly when Solomona went over shortly after.
‘I think that is the best and worst debut I have had in my life!’ said Solomona.
Keep finishing like that and he will be the toast of England as they eye the next World Cup. ‘He has been a real