Aussies in our sights after terrific victory
EDDIE JONES turned his attention to taunting Australia immediately after 14-man England had crushed Argentina in an exceptional 27-14 victory at Twickenham.
The Grand Slam champions were forced to play 75 minutes of the match without Elliot Daly after the left wing clattered into Leonardo Senatore while the No8 was catching a high ball, resulting in a red card.
Remarkably, England finished the stronger team with Jonny May’s 68th-minute try sealing the victory and setting up the prospect of amassing a national record-equalling 14th successive Test win when the Wallabies visit Twickenham on Saturday.
And Jones has already landed the first verbal blows by highlighting the weak scrummaging of a team thrashed 3-0 during last summer’s tour Down Under.
“We are looking forward to Australia next week. It is going to be a bit of fun because the Australian media last June was very disrespectful to us,” Jones said.
“I am sure that they are going to be at that again, so we have got to be prepared for that and I am very keen to have a chat to the referee about the Australian scrummaging.
“They have got some issues with the way that they scrum so we need to have a meeting with the referee and we will invite the Australian coaching staff to come along.
“We will submit an agenda and make sure that everything is above board. They were penalised four times in a row against France so they have got some technical issues.
“I am not going to sort them out for them. The best win is to come, Australia will be the best win.”
Senatore landed head first and the concussed back row’s afternoon was over, as was Daly’s, after French referee Pascal Gauzere reached for the red card. Jones had no complaint with the decision.
“Elliot made a judgement error. We all make them. These things happen and you have to get on with it. I make an error of judgement every time I go outside, we all do it,” Jones said.
“He has to bounce back, he has no choice mate. What is he going to do, sit in the corner and feel sorry for himself and never play rugby again?
“No-one holds any recrimination against him and I don’t understand the questioning on this. I have probably had five words with him saying just get on with it, there’s nothing else to say.”
Billy Vunipola’s serious-looking knee injury cast a cloud over an otherwise remarkable victory, but Jones was unable to offer an update on the number eight’s fitness.
Argentina were chaotic and proved inept at exploiting their numerical advantage, but England’s defensive display was worthy of comparison with Melbourne in June.
“I thought that was a brilliant display,” he said.