Kearns: Jones record against Wallabies ‘hard pill to swallow’

LONDON: Former World Cupwinning hooker Phil Kearns has said the Wallabies have got a job on their hands if they are to end Eddie Jones’ unbeaten record against his native Australia since becoming England head coach at Twickenham on Saturday.

England have won all seven of their Tests against the Wallabies under Jones, who was himself the coach of the Australia side beaten by England in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final in Sydney.

“They have been better than us for probably all of those games,” Kearns, capped 67 times by Australia, said Wednesday.

“That’s a hard pill to swallow (but) it’s a completely natural thing for Eddie to want to do: to beat the nation he once coached,” added Kearns, a World Cupwinner in both 1991 and 1999.

Australia’s last victory over their old rivals was a 33-13 success at Twickenham in the pool phase of the 2015 World Cup.

It was a result that contributed to the hosts’ first-round exit and led to England’s appointment of Jones – who had overseen Japan’s shock defeat of South Africa at that tournament – to succeed Stuart Lancaster.

The teams’ most recent meeting saw England overwhelm Australia 40-16 in the quarterfinals of the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

“He just wants to win,” said Kearns of Jones.

“He’s a competitive guy, he drives his team hard and he’s very successful. How do you knock that?”

Kearns was speaking at an event in London promoting Australia’s bid to stage the 2027 World Cup. Their major rivals are the United States, with World Rugby due to make a decision in May as Australia look to host the tournament for the first time in 24 years.

But for all the commercial attraction of a World Cup in America, Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan suggested it would be better for the US to host the 2031 edition, by which time their national side might be more competitive.

“Rugby is still a relatively immature sport in the US and they’ve still got to build a team up,” said McLennan, speaking alongside Kearns.

“You saw the recent 104-14 score between the All Blacks and the US Eagles.

“I think they need time to invest in their team and build their stocks up.”

Australian rugby union operates in a hugely competitive domestic market alongside rugby league and Australian rules football.