England have overcome Australia 23-7 in the second Test to clinch the series victory, their first ever on Australian soil.
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Jones’ side made almost four times as many tackles as the Wallabies and had less than a third of both territory and possession, but secured a series-clinching 23-7 win in Melbourne.
“I don’t think there is any secret about how Australia are going to play and I think to have a high work-rate winger like Jack Nowell this week is going to be an advantage for us”, Jones said.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, Cheika’s side had just a converted try to show for their efforts as England’s Owen Farrell scored late in the game to secure the win for Eddie Jones’s team. We know Australia are a formidable team.
Cheika also conceded he got some of his tactics wrong, saying the Wallabies should have kicked more often to alleviate pressure.
Robshaw also acknowledged that this triumphant tour, so soon after the miserable World Cup episode, is rounding off a “rollercoaster” of an worldwide season for him and England.
“This week we’ve spoken a lot about being desperate again, doing anything to get the win, being a bit brutal when we’re out there”, Nowell told reporters.
A Wallabies team nursing injured pride will hope for more discipline from a rejigged pack and some sympathy from the referee, as they bid to square the series against a confident England here on Saturday.
On Saturday, Jones lauded his team’s defense; making 215 tackles to Australia’s 81, as key to the win.
In Melbourne, they waved away all their chances to score from penalties in pursuit of tries but were kept scoreless for the last 45 minutes as their attacking forays washed harmlessly against England’s defensive wall. “I feel for the fans”, Moore said.
“We have to be tactically flexible in Test rugby”. I’ve got to make sure that message is clear.
Australia coach Michael Cheika admits he is concerned by his side’s failure to convert territorial dominance into victories after a second straight loss to England.
“If they want to say things about us… we’ve been respectful about them, the way they play the game and the way they conduct themselves and we’ll continue to do that”.
“(The World Cup) was a tough part of my career but I’m enjoying it at the moment, playing and training alongside these guys, wanting to be better, trying to impress them and prove to them that you deserve to be in there”, he said.
Steve Borthwick, the England’s forwards coach, admitted such a meeting was a first in his experience but that attendance of Australia was not an issue for the tourists.
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Cheika claimed the Wallabies played too much in the “wrong areas” and said that was down to his messaging. “We have to take that, suck it up and use the scars later on”.
