England’s coach Jones wants Springbok ‘scalp’ after Wallaby win
TWICKENHAM: Eddie Jones urged England to claim a South African ‘scalp’ ater they warmedup for next week’s repeat of the 2019 World Cup final with a 32-15 victory over his native Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.
England recorded their eighth successive win over the Wallabies since Jones took charge ater a 2015 World Cup where they were knocked out by Australia. A penalty-strewn encounter saw England score the only two tries of the match.
Full-back Freddie Steward crossed in just the seventh minute before Jamie Blamire went over in the last play of the game, with the replacement hooker now having scored in all four of his Test appearances.
England will now finish their 2021 season against South Africa, the team that beat them in the World Cup final in Japan two years ago, at Twickenham next week with the Springboks coming into the game on the back of a 30-15 win over Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
England prevailed against Australia despite being without loosehead props Joe Marler and Ellis Genge ater the pair tested positive for Covid-19 earlier in the week. And they suffered further problems during the match itself with hooker Jamie George going off at half-time.
All the Wallabies’ points came via five James O’connor penalties, with Australia again lacking a cuting edge in the absence of Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi ater the backs opted against touring because of their Japanese club commitments.
‘OPENING BATSMEN’: Farrell and Smith also kicked 22 points between them, with cricket fan Jones saying: “They are a bit like two opening batsmen who haven’t bated together facing the new ball for the first time.
“Every time they bat together ater this, they will be beter.
“I thought the first try we scored is probably one of the best tries I’ve seen from an England side; our handling, our running lines, hiting the holes, it was absolutely outstanding and we want to do more of that.”