England ready to shake off ‘weak’ tag

EDDIE Jones has lit the fuse for England’s forward battle with South Africa by declaring his pack are ready to shatter the Springboks’ perception of them as “weak”.

Jones was stung by perceived slights emerging from the South African camp in the wake of their conclusive 32-12 victory in the 2019 World Cup final and views Saturday’s climax to the autumn at Twickenham as the right stage to respond.

England must attempt to subdue the feared Springbok eight, which will be supported by the ‘Bomb Squad’ off the bench, with a front row that contains rookies Bevan Rodd and Jamie Blamire.

Injury and an outbreak of Covid19 have accounted for Jamie George, Luke Cowan-dickie and Ellis Genge, leaving rookies Rodd and Blamire to man the barricades alongside the experienced Kyle Sinckler.

Veteran loosehead Joe Marler only leaves self-isolation on Thursday evening and so is confined to a bench role.

Two years ago in Yokohama, South Africa used their scrum to take England apart and despite their weakened state, Jones is demanding his forwards sound a note of defiance.

“They said after the World Cup final, where they beat us fair and square, that they knew how to play to us, they knew where our weaknesses were and they were implying that our forward pack was weak,” Jones said.

“Siya Kolisi after the World Cup final said he knew how to beat us. Obviously their game is based on physicality so the implication is that they can go over our forward pack.

“But our English forward pack won’t be weak on Saturday. We’ll have 82,000 people supporting that forward pack and we’re looking forward to that contest up front.

“We don’t have a ‘Bomb Squad’ like South Africa are so proud about, but we have Joe Marler and Will Stuart.

“And with the young guy Nic Dolly from Leicester, we’re looking forward to taking them on in the last 20-30 minutes of the game.

“We looking forward to taking them on in that physicality and we’re also looking forward to try to expose the weaknesses in their game that they do have.”

England will be led by Courtney Lawes in the absence of Owen Farrell, who will be out for three months with ankle trouble. England: Steward; Marchant, Slade, Tuilagi, May; Smith, Youngs; Rodd, Blamire, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Lawes (capt), Underhill, Curry. Reps: Dolly, Marler, Stuart, Ewels, Simmonds, Dombrandt, Quirke, Malins.