JONES IS IN NO RUSH TO PICK STARS
EDDIE JONES insists he won’t be pressured into picking Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje against Australia next weekend – despite the sub-standard show against Argentina.
Farrell and Itoje were rested as England struggled past the Pumas at Twickenham on Saturday in a flat start to the Old Mutual Wealth Series.
Jones’ side need a significant uplift if they are to see off the Wallabies but the England coach says shortterm temptations will not override long-term priorities.
“We’ve planned a three-game selection,” said Jones.
“We are trying to win the World Cup in 2019, so everything we do now is about trying to win the World Cup.
Missed
“The way we manage the players is with that in mind – to be at their best by November 2, 2019.
“Some players need to get more work at other things. At this stage, that’s the case with Itoje and Farrell. We’ll continue doing that until we think they need to play.”
Man of the match Mako Vunipola admitted the rested Lions kingpins were missed in the unconvincing 21-8 win over Argentina.
“They are world-class players and when they’re not in the side you can see you’re missing a bit of presence,” he said.
Joe Marler was last night recalled to the England squad in a move which is likely to spark another ‘scrumgate’ row with the Wallabies. The Harlequins prop, who rejoined the England squad at their Pennyhill Park base after completing a three-week ban for elbowing Wasps’ Will Rowlands, was singled out by Australia for illegal tactics ahead of their World Cup meeting two years ago.
“I’m sure that’s going to come,” said Jones.
“I want Australia to bring their best game to Twickenham and then see if we can handle it. We know we have to play better and we will.”
Australia, who beat New Zealand three weeks ago, come into the Twickenham showdown in confident mood after their 13th successive win over Wales at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
England could be without Mike Brown, with the full-back going through the return-to-play concussion protocols after an aerial collision with Joaquin Tuculet which saw the Pumas full-back sin-binned.