Daily Star Sunday

GATLAND’S HEROES ARE NINE & DANDY

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EDDIE JONES and his England side have the chariot back on track as they head into World Cup year on a high.

A comfortabl­e victory over Australia rounded off a fine autumn campaign and with key personnel to return in the new year, Japan 2019 is looking a realistic target for Jones to aim for once more.

England were too strong all round for the Wallabies.

Throw in the Vunipola brothers and a restored Manu Tuilagi, who tip-toed his way back into Test rugby after a two-year gap with 12 minutes off the bench yesterday, and there is an air of genuine menace about this side again.

They are not the finished article and should have put a poor Australia side away by more yesterday – but with nine games to build up a head of steam before the World Cup optimism is building.

Jones, who got one over his homeland once more, said: “We had a tough Six Nations. We got some things wrong in planning, some things wrong in terms of where we were going as a team and we needed to regroup.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted in terms of winning the South Africa series but in terms of the togetherne­ss of the team, how we want to go forward, this series was a step forward and the 2019 Six Nations will be another step forward again.”

England’s second half had Twickenham on its feet yesterday with three tries after the break.

Elliot Daly struck in the 44th minute, speeding through on an arcing run from Owen Farrell’s offload. Then Joe Cokanasiga bounced off Dane Haylett-Petty to score in the 56th minute.

Farrell completed the rout with four minutes left, taking sub George Ford’s pass to score.

Cokanasiga (right) has been the find of the autumn with the giant Bath wing making it two tries in as many starts for England.

“It’s something I’ve always dreamed of. I just love it and there will hopefully be more,” he said.

“This is definitely a step higher than club rugby. It’s quicker and I’m trying my best to adapt to it. But I’m confident in what I do.”

Kyle Sinckler was man of the match for a powerful all-round display although the quality of his sledging may also have been taken into account.

The Harlequins prop baited the Wallabies during one first-half dust-up by calling them “snitchers” in apparent reference to the suspension of Adam Ashley-Cooper and Kurtley Beale.

The pair were shopped by teammates for having three women in their hotel room after hours earlier in the tour.

Brad Shields was not far behind Sinckler in what was his best game for England so far and Mark Wilson was a relentless presence throughout. There could have WALES earned a first clean sweep of their November Test programme after grinding out victory over South Africa at the Principali­ty Stadium.

It was a ninth successive win for Warren Gatland’s men and a fourth victory in a row over the Boks to send a strong message about their potential for next year’s World Cup.

The Welsh, ranked third in world rugby, scored two early tries to been more tries in the second-half avalanche. Cokanasiga was only denied by a last-ditch cover tackle from Michael Hooper.

And Jonny May, who opened the scoring in the third minute, had a touchdown chalked off by the TMO for Henry Slade’s kick kissing the touchline.

Israel Folau’s second try of the game in injury time was of little comfort to the beaten visitors. Coach Michael Cheika moaned afterwards about referee Jaco Peyper denying Australia what should have been a penalty try for another illegal charge by Farrell which stopped Izack Rodda five metres out.

“The idea that the referee would say that our player would shoulder charge the opposition was ludicrous,” Cheika said. MARTIN HOPWOOD Wales 20 South Africa 11

 ??  ?? ensure a 14-3 half-time lead and held off a dominant Springbok showing in the second half.Prop Tomas Francis and fullback Liam Williams (left) both crossed in the opening 16 minutes while Jesse Kriel got South Africa’s only try in the second half.
ensure a 14-3 half-time lead and held off a dominant Springbok showing in the second half.Prop Tomas Francis and fullback Liam Williams (left) both crossed in the opening 16 minutes while Jesse Kriel got South Africa’s only try in the second half.
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