I’ll make England bullet-proof for All Blacks clash
JONES VOW AS 2018 DATE CONFIRMED
EDDIE JONES has declared his intention to make England ‘ bulletproof’ before they face world champions New Zealand for the first time in four years — on November 10 next year at Twickenham.
The RFU yesterday confirmed the schedule for the 2018 autumn series and it includes the fixture that the English and Kiwi rugby public, plus countless intrigued neutrals around the world, have been craving. Jones has presided over an England revival which has elevated the national team to No 2 in the global rankings and the only major scalp they are yet to claim is that of the All Blacks.
There has not been a fixture between the leading nations since November 2014 and they will only meet once in this four-year cycle between World Cups.
Earlier this year, Sportsmail revealed that the RFU failed in their attempt to line up an England v New Zealand clash on November 4 this year, instead of the Barbarians’ match against Steve Hansen’s side.
England have regularly trumpeted their intention to take over at the top of the rankings and their head coach said: ‘Over the next year we need to continue to develop a bullet-proof side, that can find ways to win in matches — and we will have to work hard and be smart in what we do to bridge the gap between us and the All Blacks.
‘Our ambition is to be the No 1 team in the world going into the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.’
The fixture list announced yesterday will pit England against South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia next November and Jones added: ‘The 2018 (autumn) series is incredibly important for England as we build towards the World Cup.
‘We want to win that series 4-0 and we will need to play extremely well to beat four very good teams over a four-week period. The series will give us a really good indicator of where we are as a squad, a year out from the World Cup.’
England have only beaten New Zealand once in the 15 Tests since the 2003 global success under Sir Clive Woodward. In contrast, they have won their last four matches against Australia, including a 3-0 series whitewash of Michael Cheika’s Wallabies Down Under in 2016. There has only been one previous fixture against Japan, which England won 60-7 during the inaugural World Cup in 1987.
While coach Jones will spend considerable time preparing for that pivotal series, especially for the visit of New Zealand, his short-term plans have been aided by a positive medical update from Bath yesterday.
Anthony Watson went off injured late in his club’s home victory over Saracens last Saturday and the England and Lions wing had a scan to assess a possible arm injury. The good news for club and country is that there is no significant damage and he is fit to face Northampton tomorrow night. Bath will also unleash new England flanker Sam Underhill for his competitive debut at openside, following his summer transfer from the Ospreys.
Meanwhile, Northampton have further reinforced their squad by confirming the January arrival of former Springbok flanker Heinrich Brussow from Japan.
The news comes just a week after the East Midlands club revealed Dan Biggar will join them from the Ospreys next June.