Jones determined to complete the job
ddie Jones has insisted he will not be happy until his england side prove they are the best by lifting the World Cup next Saturday.
england will face South Africa in the final after the Boks ended Wales’ hopes of an all-British showdown with a 19-16 victory yesterday.
Jones has hinted he could change the team that smashed the All Blacks in Saturday’s semi-final after undertaking a scouting mission to watch South Africa last night.
Selection has revolved around the dual axis of George Ford and Owen Farrell, but that could be broken up once again to deal with the midfield threat of damian de Allende.
‘Next week is another situation,’ said Jones. ‘We’ll look at how we need to play and what the opposition are going to bring to the party and then we’ll decide on selection.’
There will also be at least one injury-enforced change to the matchday squad after Saracens’ Ben Spencer, 27, flew to Japan on Saturday night to replace injured scrum-half Willi Heinz.
After one of their most physical displays in history, england are also hoping that Farrell, Jonny May, Kyle Sinckler and Anthony Watson overcome knocks.
‘Jonny didn’t re-injure his hamstring but he got quite a severe cork, as did Owen,’ said Jones. ‘Anthony is sore. Apart from that, we’re pretty good. Kyle is sore but should be okay.’
After the euphoria of Saturday night, Jones tried to bring his players back down to earth.
His squad enjoyed some family time yesterday and are likely to return to regular training tomorrow — with one day extra preparation on South Africa.
‘We’ve got another week to go,’ said Jones. ‘We want to be the best in the world and we’re not. So we’re not going to be satisfied until we’re the best in the world.
‘it’s a mindset. it’s about making sure no one gets too far ahead of themselves. This team has no reason to, since we haven’t achieved what we want to achieve. All Saturday has done is give us another week in the comp.’
Wales coach Warren Gatland expects the Springboks to pose a more physical challenge than the All Blacks, saying after defeat: ‘They’ve got the physicality to match england. They’ve got a very good chance.
‘They might need to be a bit more expansive. They had a simple game plan against us, with de Allende and the scrums. There was a lot of kicking from (Faf) de Klerk and (Handre) Pollard, too. it was effective and it was about making the final for them.’
The Boks are led by inspirational skipper Siya Kolisi, who grew up in a township and survived on jam sandwiches. Recalling his memories of watching South Africa beat england in the 2007 World Cup final, Kolisi said: ‘i was in a tavern because i didn’t have a TV at home.
‘it means a lot to us to be in the final. it’s awesome to see it come together. it will mean a lot for us to go all the way.’
in a country burned by its apartheid past, Kolisi is the Springboks’ first black captain. He is supported by a band of heavyweights in the pack, who used their raw size to beat up Japan, before winning an arm wrestle with Wales.
They do not come much bigger than lock Lood de Jager, who will throw his 6ft 7in and 125kg frame into english bodies on Saturday.
‘it’s going to be very physical,’ said de Jager. ‘The only way we know is fighting fire with fire. We base our game on physicality and they’re a very physical side. The team that dominates the gain line will win the game.
‘South Africa’s a tough place to grow up — it’s dangerous — and you have to bring that out when you’re on the pitch. Our captain grew up in a township. A lot of people grew up in tough places and they need to bring that out. He’s a big inspiration.’
Head coach Rassie erasmus has been hailed as the brains behind South Africa’s turnaround. He only took on the role in 2018, but one of his first moves was to appoint Kolisi as captain.
erasmus has restored pride in the Boks jersey and driven home to his players what it means to play for your country.
He said: ‘i think there were players in South Africa who just saw rugby as a good pay cheque. Now they realise if they want to be a professional rugby player, you have to work very hard.’
erasmus hinted that his side will stick to their physical approach against england, saying: ‘We have a six-day turnaround and i’m not sure that a World Cup final will be won by a very expansive game plan and wonderful tries.
‘We don’t have the money england have but we have the player pool. in terms of resources, qualified coaches, player development pathway, england are right up there.
‘Premiership rugby has rich owners who back their clubs with a wonderful system — and keep them in a professional mindset.
‘We’ve got different challenges in South Africa. The rand is not the strongest. We had to make a few changes in overseas-based players, talk to franchises. Now we’re in the final, only then will we really see if we’ve turned the corner as much as we wanted to.
de Jager added: ‘england are definitely favourites. if you beat the All Blacks by 12 points, you’re going to be the favourites in most games. But we have a foot in the door. These are the biggest games of your life — and anything can happen.’