You’re not the All Blacks yet
THE feel-good factor of whitewashing the Aussies has been flattened by former British and Irish Lions head coach Sir Ian McGeechan, who believes England are two years behind world champions New Zealand.
Replacing the All Blacks as the No1 side in the world is the ultimate aim for England coach Eddie Jones. And it was widely thought that his side had taken a giant leap towards that goal after Saturday’s 44-40 victory in Sydney made it nine straight wins since he was appointed head coach in November.
England end a season in which they won the Six Nations Grand Slam placed second in the world rankings but McGeechan, right, was keen to prick the bubble of optimism.
“There is no doubt that England have been absolutely outstanding in winning 3-0 in Australia,” he said.
“It is a magnificent achievement but the truth is that they are still some distance behind New Zealand. In fact, I would say they are two years behind the world champions. England are clearly above Australia and South Africa but New Zealand are still some way out on top.”
To underline that feeling, Owen Farrell says England will dwell only briefly on their success before refocusing.
“It has been brilliant. We’ll enjoy this because it has never been done before. We’re in a good place but our goal is clearly to be the best. That’s what we’re working towards,” said Farrell.
“And to beat New Zealand we’ll probably have to start joining things up a little bit more.
“We’ve had games in this series where, if one thing’s going well, something else might not be. It might then swap around for the next Test.”
It was Farrell’s goal-kicking that ultimately proved the difference at Allianz Stadium after Australia edged the try count 5-4.
The man of the match amassed 24 points through six penalties and three conversions and missed just one of his 10 shots at goal, finishing the series with a 66-point haul and an 88 per cent strike rate.
Jones describes his goalkicking as “solar system class” and Farrell revealed that coaching sessions with Jonny Wilkinson have elevated his game to a new level.
“Working with Jonny has impacted on me massively,” said Farrell. “He has made me understand a lot better what I do and how I get to where I want to get to. He’s the best ever. I can’t see anybody ever being better.”
Farrell does, however, refuse to take any plaudits for his success rate from the kicking tee. “That’s my job,” he said. “The first Test probably spurred me on a little bit because, even though I knocked them over, I wasn’t striking them as well as I thought I could.
“I really got back to it the week after and came good. Not everything is perfect at the minute, there’s a lot to get on with, but I’m in a good place.”
So, it seems, are England.
ROUND-UP
Quinn Roux, Sean Reidy and Matt Healy.
Ireland face the All Blacks, who they have never beaten, in Chicago on November 5 before the world champions come to Dublin two weeks later. And Henderson said: “One thing we can take from this is that, as a young side, we’ve made history once on this tour and there’s no reason why we can’t do it again.” Sam Warburton is not banking on another crack at the All Blacks any time soon after Wales were humbled 46-6 in the final Test in Dunedin for a series whitewash.
That could have hit his hopes next summer of leading the British Lions.
“A Lions tour to New Zealand is historically the most difficult,” said the Wales skipper. “But that’s miles away and selection for any squad is out of your control.”