NO LOOKING BOK NOW

Eddie’s boys on the rise

BIG BEN: Youngs crosses the line for England in Italy

WHEN England lost the World Cup final a year ago today nobody said it would be the making of them.

Eddie Jones went as far as to point to a history of immediate decline in teams that lose rugby’s biggest game.

So they were entitled to smile as they arrived at the first anniversary of their “Bok- bashing” with a major trophy in their mitts.

The Six Nations is not the Webb Ellis Cup. Nor is a scrappy 34- 5 win in Italy anywhere near comparable to taking on South Africa. Tries from Ben Youngs ( 2), Jamie George, Tom Curry and Henry Slade proved too much for the Italians, who grabbed a consolation through Jake Polledri.

And given the 12 months that preceded it, the quiet satisfaction among Jones ( inset) and his team last night was easy to understand.

“Losing a World Cup final can be quite traumatic,” Australian.

“It puts a dent in you and it leaves a scar that you carry around for the rest of your life. It is the same for players and coaches.

“You’ve got to find a way to go forward again.”

To begin with they could not put one foot in front of another. An hour into their Six Nations campaign they trailed 24- 0 in Paris. “We got sharpened up by said the

TOO HOT TO HANDLE: Tom Curry was among the England try- scorers

France,” said id the th England l coach. “You lose the first game, everyone wants the coach to be sacked. Players should be sacked, the captain is no good.

“But you find out who wants to go forward and who doesn’t.”

As it turns out, Jonny May’s two late converted tries that night won England the title, given that their final advantage over runners- up France was a points difference of 23. At the time it seemed scant con consolation, but Jones held his nerve nerve. And with his players commendably focused through lockdown, England found a way to rise to the top. “Maturity comes from good and bad experiences and this team has had both and learned from them,” he said.

“We went to the World Cup final as the youngest team ever and all those who felt the pain of losing had to make a decision on how they were going to go forward.

“Losing a World Cup final gives you pretty good feedback, you’re not quite good enough. That was the reality. So we had to find ways of being better.”

No one should pretend this was anything like a vintage championship and few would argue France were the outstanding team.

But in these most difficult times he is justifiably proud of what his players have achieved.

“We’ve started well and there’s a fair bit still to go,” added Jones, as captain Owen Farrell handed out medals to his team- mates before raising the trophy in a low- key ceremony.

“We’re building a new team that going to take us to great heights.” is