Basic errors cost us, says Jones

EDDIE JONES bemoaned fundamental and elementary mistakes after England’s damaging defeat. But the England coach insisted that he has no concerns over next year’s World Cup when these two sides will meet in Pool D. Jones (right) said: ‘We realise it’s not good enough. A frustrating game. We made some elementary mistakes, some individual mistakes that kept on inviting them back into the game. Losing always hurts. Structurally we had control of the game but we kept making fundamental mistakes and easy errors.’

England conceded 10 penalties, 13 turnovers and two second-half tries in four minutes. Captain Owen Farrell said his side had to address their discipline.

‘We have to look at ourselves and see what t we can do as a team and as individuals to make sure that doesn’t happen again,’ Farrell said. Prop Ellis Genge claimed England’s penalty count is a ‘reflection of leadership’. ip’. ‘We kept feeding them mistakes and discipline just killed us. We need to address the areas and why they were happening and have those slightly uncomfortable conversations with each other and just own it.’ Manu Tuilagi came off in the second half, with Jones claiming the centre had a blister. ‘We are not overly cconcerned at this stage,stage,’ he said. VictVictory capped a whwhirlwind week for cocoach Michael Cheika, wwho has been jujuggling Argentina dduties with Lebanon’s RuRugby League World CuCup campaign. CheCheika does not believe this vicvictory will have a major bearbearing on next year’s World Cup clash in France. Nor does Jones. ‘The World Cup is 11 months away, a lot happens in 11 months. As a lot can happen in a week,’ Jones said.