DON’T MESS WITH EDDIE
Jones rages at rude Aussie jibes
EDDIE JONEs has warned Australia that the ‘disgusting, demeaning and disrespectful’ response to his side on this tour will galvanise England’s quest to clinch an historic series win here on saturday.
England arrived in Melbourne yesterday, buoyed by their stunning triumph in Brisbane and hell-bent on finishing the job at the first chance in this three-Test series.
As the Wallabies were rocked by the loss of the influential David Pocock for the final two matches, England coach Jones and his players were seeking the emotional edge needed to ram home their advantage.
Far from being content at seeing his players enact his Bodyline game plan to telling effect in the opening Test, Jones was left simmering with rage. The spark was a wildly inappropriate post-match question — laden with sexual innuendo — from former Wallaby-turnedFox sports broadcaster stephen Hoiles, relating to Jones’ victory celebrations with skills coach Glen Ella in the English box.
It followed a campaign of mocking pre-series trailers by the same television company which poured scorn on the visitors and dismissed their prospects.
Jones (right) erupted, saying: ‘You’ve seen the promotions Fox sports have been running this week and the kind of questions we get.
‘It is quite demeaning and disrespectful to the team, so we’re not going to let this opportunity pass.’
Asked if he genuinely believed that England have been disrespected, Jones added: ‘Without a doubt. You get that ridiculous question from Hoiles. ‘You’ve seen the Fox promos; they are disgusting. We don’t need any extra motivation. There’s been a disrespectful way in which the team has been treated in the media here.’ Jones is convinced England will continue to face Australian mocking and goading — as part of an orchestrated campaign following their recordbreaking victory in Brisbane.
‘I am sure they are all going to be lining up,’ he added. ‘There has been a row of ex-Wallaby players — you’ve had Hoiles, you’ve had (simon) Poidevin and you have had (Phil) kearns. (David) campese has got to be somewhere. He is coming for sure. I can see next week something is going to happen.’
The challenge for England this week will be to replicate their performance in Brisbane — where they had never beaten the host nation before — and handle the pressure of being within one victory of an historic Test series win.
Jones is confident that his men have the substance and character to cope.
‘There’s good leadership in the team,’ he said. ‘You’ve got guys like Dylan (Hartley), (James) Haskell and (chris) Robshaw. They’ve been through the tough times and they don’t want to go back there. They want to keep improving. They want to keep winning.’
Two years ago, England went to New Zealand and won plaudits for their conduct, manners and diplomacy, but they lost the series 3-0. This time, England have only one objective — to finish ahead on the scoreboard.
Jones wants his squad to fly home as winners and he is encouraging the rattling of Australian cages.
This revived stroppy streak is delighting the Antipodean in charge of a run of seven successive victories.
‘It is coming from within the team,’ said Jones. ‘English teams are at their best when they have a physical pack of aggressive forwards.’
Yet, there was artistry at play, too. No team can score 39 points against the Wallabies without being able to attack with conviction. England scored three tries and showed a knack for seizing their scoring chances, to a far greater extent than Australia, who claimed four tries but left a few more behind.
Two of England’s tries were created by George Ford. He was brought on in the 29th minute for luther Burrell, as Jones showed a willingness to make ruthless decisions on the hoof.
Just after half-time, the Bath playmaker withstood the shock of seeing Haskell side-step a winger to send Marland Yarde over the line with a fine long pass. Then, at the death, his deft low kick released Jack Nowell to touch down.
Ford refused to consider this a scene of personal redemption, but he enjoyed it nonetheless.
‘It is a great feeling,’ he said. ‘The boys are really happy, but we have to up the performance next week.’
They will face an Australia shorn of Pocock, who is facing four to six weeks out after being replaced 11 minutes from time in Brisbane.
The Wallabies are also awaiting bulletins on lock Rob simmons’ back injury, which head coach Michael cheika conceded is ‘a bit of a worry’.