FALL-BLACKS
Jones plans to topple NZ in 2018 and rule the World in 2019
EDDIE JONES has demanded that England become “bulletproof” after finally getting a date to face the world champion All Blacks.
Four years’ wait will come to an end on November 10 next year when the No.1 and No.2-ranked nations meet at Twickenham for the first time since 2014.
Ten months later, the World Cup kicks off in Japan and coach Jones believes that taking the scalp of New Zealand can provide a springboard to a Red Rose triumph.
“Our ambition is to be the No.1 team in the world, going into the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan,” he said. “Over the next year, we need to continue to develop a bulletproof side that can find ways to win in matches.
“We will have to work hard and be smart in what we do to bridge the gap between us and the All Blacks.”
England have a relatively light autumn in this Lions year, with November games against Argentina, Australia and Samoa – none of whom is ranked in the world’s top four.
But a year from now is another matter, with South Africa and Australia joining New Zealand on the schedule, as well as Japan. Jones says the series is “incredibly important” in preparation for a tournament in which England are drawn with France, Argentina, Tonga and the United States. He added: “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 Rugby World Cup. “It also gives us a real focus on what we have to do over the next 12 months to be ready for that series and to win.” Jones has chosen to opt for the pre-World Cup blueprint that Sir Clive Woodward used in 2002.
Woodward’s side conquered the three southern hemisphere superpowers during successive weeks that November.
And the confidence, which that gave them, fuelled their drive to World Cup glory 12 months later.
Jones, who has lost only once in 20 matches in charge, is leaving no stone unturned in his effort to return the trophy to England.
He has already been to Japan and earmarked Miyazaki – on the southern island of Kyushu – as the ideal pre-tournament base.