Jones must walk tall

Farrell’s side launch their campaign against Tonga today in the Sapporo Dome, where David Beckham gave the nation one of its great sporting days.

The England captain recalls Beckham’s penalty which beat Argentina at that 2002 World Cup (right), but his abiding memory is the impact it had on the nation and how that support lifted the team.

Farrell said: “I know how good the nation is at getting behind the team at tournaments like this. Whenever we get to the knockout stages and build some momentum the country goes mental for it.

“We all know how much people love to see England do well at the big tournaments.

Misses

“Whether it’s the football World Cup or Cricket World Cup, we’ve seen the momentum that gathers back home and I’m sure those teams were able to feed off that. Hopefully we can give the country something to cheer about.”

England teams had a succession of near misses before the cricketers landed their World Cup this summer.

Gareth Southgate’s footballers a year ago, and Phil and Tracey Neville’s women’s football and netball teams this summer – all benefited from a huge groundswell of support as they advanced deep into their respective world cups.

Now it’s the turn of Eddie Jones’s side – who boast 34 wins from 44 games since rugby’s last global showpiece – to try to surf that wave.

Asked if his team possesses any Ben Stokes-type players capable of taking hold of the tournament and turning it England’s way, Farrell said: “Hopefully we’ve got a few.”

For sure they boast a decent set- piece and a crack breakdown unit, exceptional playmakers, carriers and strike runners.

They are mostly fit and healthy and they have the benefit of three

World Cups worth of experience in coach Jones.

The question is whether they can pull all that together and deliver it in an 80-minute performance not once but seven games in a row.

Since winning back-toback Six Nations titles in EDDIE JONES is described by England scrum-half Ben Youngs as the best salesman he has ever met. But can he walk the walk as well as talk the talk?

When Jones took over in the wake of England’s disastrous 2015 campaign, he identified THIS tournament as the one he should be judged upon.

He may have won a Grand Slam and a Six Nations title and overseen a series whitewash in Australia, but he was 2016-17 that sort of consistency has eluded England. But they are not short of self-belief and their 57-15 thrashing of Ireland at Twickenham last month showcased the potential within the side. “It’s an unbelievable opportunity to be part of something brilliant,” said Farrell.

“World Cups come along every four years when everyone is at their best. We’re in a place where we’re ready to go.

Preparation

appointed by the RFU with one goal in mind – the 2019 World Cup.

At their rip-roaring, powerful best his England side are capable of blowing opponents away.

But they have shown themselves vulnerable to sides who can knock them off balance mentally.

Tonga are unlikely to be one of those, but somewhere along this Japanese journey we will find out what England are really made of.