SORT THIS MESS OUT, EDDIE!
England must cut out errors to avoid defeat by Wallabies
ENGLAND will conduct an urgent post-mortem at their Surrey HQ today, knowing any repeat of this stuttering performance will bring an abrupt end to the era of home rule under Eddie Jones, five days from now.
Any attempts to strike a note of defiance after an unconvincing victory over the beleaguered Pumas were for public consumption alone. In the privacy of their training base, the national team will go through a brutal assessment of their shortcomings in the opening fixture of this autumn campaign.
The review will proceed with minds focused by the threat of what lies ahead. Australia come to Twickenham on Saturday buoyed by their win over Wales, which came just three weeks after they beat the All Blacks in Brisbane. Michael Cheika’s side have revived to such an extent that they can jeopardise England’s 11-match winning streak at their national stadium.
The fortress aura takes time to create, but Argentina weren’t unnerved by their surroundings, on a subdued occasion, and the Wallabies will believe they can storm the ramparts again. They were the last country to beat England in southwest London, by 20 points during the World Cup two years ago, and the hosts will fear a similarly grisly fate if they fail to raise their game.
Lions prop Mako Vunipola delivered a convincing performance on a day when the collective effort fell a long way short of expectations. ‘We know we could have played a lot better. There is still a cohesiveness we need to work on. If we take the lessons from this, it shouldn’t happen again. If we don’t have that cohesiveness, Australia will take you apart,’ he said.
Suddenly, the pre-series consensus that the Wallabies would be there for the taking has been shattered. England cannot, and will not, shy away from the stark facts which undermine the party line about satisfaction in a hard-fought win.
They had just 38 per cent of the possession and 34 per cent of the territory against an Argentina side who have won just once this year. At home. They didn’t score a point from the 34th minute to the 66th. Argentina missed 12 eminently kickable points off the tee and England’s relief-inducing second try stemmed from a pass that was a long, long way forward.
While Jones offered a largely upbeat verdict, perhaps the most telling moment came in the sec- ond half when his team conceded yet another penalty. In the stand, the head coach slammed a notebook and pen down on his desk and shouted: ‘F***. How f***ing stupid are we?’ It illustrated how the performance had strayed so far from the script.
Later, he misinterpreted a question about the poor quality of the spectacle, reading it as a slight on his players’ effort. It was no such thing, but that won’t prevent a circling of English wagons. Scope for review criticism and a siege mentality are handy coaching tools now and the Australian will surely wield them to telling effect.
For the record, England’s first try was an act of classy execution, in terms of creation and finish, with George Ford’s supreme long pass off his left hand juggled and held by Nathan Hughes, before the giant Wasps No 8 crashed through two tacklers to score.
Likewise, the second try by Semesa Rokoduguni — although it should not have been awarded — contained elements to savour: Courtney Lawes’ deft reclaiming of a high kick and Alex Lozowski’s scything midfield break. The defensive resistance from the home side was impressive, with Sam Underhill a force of nature in this regard on his home debut.
Official data claimed the Bath flanker made 21 tackles. It looked to the naked eye as if he made about 125. He kept hurling himself into collisions and flattening any Pumas who dared cross his path.
Yet, when the dam eventually broke two minutes from time and the visitors scored their sole try, it was a triumph of persistence.
Daniel Hourcade’s men put together a 30-phase attack, which was just the sort of patient onslaught the hosts were unable to deliver. Hughes was a rampag-
ing presence, but there was not sufficient ball- carrying support, despite the herculean work of Lawes, with ball and without.
Vunipola admitted the scrum was a ‘mixed bag’ — which would have been a polite verdict, had it not been for a late set-piece rally.
Last night, Jones recalled Harlequins prop Joe Marler after his ban, but he is unlikely to feature against the Wallabies. Instead, the Samoa game on November 25 will be a realistic target, while Ellis Genge and Harry Williams are also vying for starting opportunities, this week or next.
Mike Brown will go through return-to-play protocols after his alarming, head-first fall to earth. Given the full-back’s concussion history, he may not reappear this month, which would allow Anthony Watson or Elliot Daly a full audition at No 15.
Owen Farrell was an animated water-boy, but he and Maro Itoje are destined to return against the dangerous Wallabies. Jones revealed that the England coaches have ‘planned a three-game selection’, but circumstances may force urgent revisions. He will demand a lot more from his men.
‘The fans were disappointed and we were disappointed,’ he said. ‘We know we have to play better and we will.’