“Phil is part of an organised campaign and he is playing his role and playing a very good role”, Jones said.
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England fly half Owen Farrell scored 24 points as England beat the Wallabies 39-28 in a thrilling opening match to start their three-test series.
The visitor was outscored four tries to three as Hooper and Tevita Kuridrani touched down in the second half for Australia, who got to within four points with three minutes to go, but replacement Jack Nowell’s last-gasp try secured England’s 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Cheika said Simmons’ condition had improved and he would travel to Melbourne, but the Wallabies have a wealth of second-row back-up just in case.
England flanker James Haskell typified his team’s effort, ferocious in defence and at the breakdown as the tourists produced a fine display of disciplined aggression in front of 48,700 fans at the Suncorp Stadium.
“We’ve now got a better handle on what we need to do to get better”.
While the players enjoyed measured celebrations after their 39-28 win in Brisbane, knowing one more victory would seal an historic series triumph, Jones braced himself for hostility “coming at us left, right and centre”. It’s going to be a great contest.
Australia’s passage into the World Cup final last autumn offers perspective on the size of the challenge facing England, while the friendship between Jones and his former Randwick team-mate Michael Cheika, who coaches the Wallabies, adds a personal dimension to the series.
McMahon scores against Uruguay during the World Cup in September past year.
“We’re not thinking about the future, we’re not thinking about what’s to come in how many years”, he said.
“The experience we had in the World Cup when there were no second chances pretty much every week is something we’ll be able to use to our advantage”.
“If we want to bring in nearly a like-for-like player, then we’ll go with Liam Gill”, coach Michael Cheika said.
“We’ve made history, but it’s not good enough for us”, he said.
“I am talking about the team. So here goes, let’s swing the bat and see how we go”.
“They tried to get up in our face, they tried to impose themselves on the game”, Phipps said.
“He is certainly a good player Pocock and we wish him a speedy recovery”, Jones said.
“If it was “try or no try”, different story, but when he says “is there any reason why I can’t award the try” it has to be clear”. Cheik always uses him to full effect when we need to and the ability to be able to slot him into any role with his skill-set around backline stuff is quite awesome for a guy of his size.
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It was just his fifth match at worldwide level, coming off a domestic season in which he led Saracens to a win in the European Champions Cup final last season and also scooped the European Player of the Year award.
