JONES: WE’LL BE BULLETPROOF

EDDIE JONES has declared his intention to make England ‘bulletproof ’ before they face world champions New Zealand for the first time in four years next year. The RFU yesterday confirmed the schedule for the 2018 autumn series that pits England against South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia next November, with the clash against the All Blacks at Twickenham on November 10. Jones has presided over a revival which has elevated England to No 2 in the 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 nations since November 2014 and they will only meet once in this four-year cycle between World Cups. England have regularly trumpeted their intention to take over at the top of the rankings and Jones now has the All Blacks firmly in his sights. 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. ‘Our ambition is to be the No 1 team in the world going into the 2019 World Cup in Japan. ‘The 2018 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. ‘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 since 2003. They have won their last four matches against Australia; including a 3-0 series whitewash of Michael Cheika’s Wallabies — who reached the last World Cup final — Down Under in June, 2016. There has only been one previous fixture against Japan, which England won 60-7 during the inaugural World Cup in 1987.