Do your damndest, Jones tells Aussies

– England coach Eddie Jones said he hoped his native Australia would bring their “absolute best game” when the two sides meet at Twickenham on Friday night.

Jones, the Wallabies’ boss when they lost the 2003 World Cup final to England, has overseen four successive Red Rose victories against an Australia side coached by Michael Cheika – his former team-mate at Sydney club Randwick.

These include a 3-0 series victory in Australia and a 37-21 success at Twickenham last year.

The last time Australia beat England was when they knocked the tournament hosts out of the 2015 World Cup with a comprehensive 33-13 win at Twickenham – a result that led the Rugby Football Union to sack Stuart Lancaster and replace him as coach with Jones.

Both sides will come into their latest encounter on the back of victories.

England launched their November campaign with an error-strewn 21-8 win over Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday, while Australia defeated Wales 29-21 in Cardiff a few hours later.

Under Jones, England have lost just once – when Ireland denied them a second successive Six Nations Grand Slam in Dublin in March – and they are now second to New Zealand in the international rankings.

But if England are to dethrone New Zealand at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, Jones believes it’s vital they face plenty of stern challenges between now and then.

“We are hoping Australia bring their absolute best game,” Jones told reporters.

“These games are about seeing where we are at. We’ve got a very clear vision of how we want to play. It should be fun.”

England’s latest win over 2019 World Cup pool opponents saw No 8 Nathan Hughes score his first Test try and replacement back Semesa Rokoduguni cross in the second half, with their other 11 points coming via George Ford’s boot.

Flyhalf Ford was given kicking duties after Jones rested regular goalkicker Owen Farrell, as well as lock Maro Itoje, following their efforts in helping the British and Irish Lions to a 1-1 series draw in New Zealand.

The Pumas, who scored a late try through flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez, have now lost 20 out of 27 Tests since reaching the semifinals of the 2015 World Cup. – AFP