England are already celebrating one of the most successful years in their history and their finest since lifting the 2003 World Cup, but they know the danger of having their heads turned as they attempt to crush the Wallabies.
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Eddie Jones hails Australia whitewash World-class players?
England completed the series whitewash with a try-fest in Sydney with the brilliant Owen Farrell contributing 24 points from the tee.
The tourists’ dominance has robbed the series of a dramatic decider, but Jones has pumped up the dead rubber like a slick carnival promoter.
As the game entered the final quarter the yo-yo nature of the match continued, Farrell keeping his side in the hunt with his successful fourth penalty of the match before Jamie George’s footballing skills came into play for the second week running as he crossed for the decisive score when he gathered his own kick ahead.
Owen Farrell insists England will dwell only briefly on the success of a remarkable season before refocusing on their true goal of usurping New Zealand as the game’s dominant force.
And it was widely thought that his side had taken a giant leap towards that goal after Saturday’s 44-40 victory in Sydney made it nine straight wins since he was appointed head coach in November. You work it out for yourself.
England has now won nine consecutive Tests under Jones, since the Australian coach took over after England’s dismal showing at the 2015 World Cup where the hosts exited at the group stage.
“The plan was always to bring the guys back, who I went around and saw in January – the ones who wanted to keep playing, and they all put their hand up to want to play”, Cheika said.
Cheika said his captain, Stephen Moore, missed a lineout throw when he was pushed in the back by a linesman, though the hooker said he didn’t believe that was an excuse for his error.
“Three really cracker games”.
Billy Vunipola rampaged over from a five-metre scrum to put the visitors back into the lead, but Australia looked risky every time they managed to wrest the ball from England’s grasp, and flanker Hooper stretched over before the Leicester-bound Toomua burst through in midfield and gave 6ft 5in Wallaby full-back Folau a run to the line.
“Very few sides beat Australia in Australia – the All Blacks do, but there aren’t too many other sides”, said Jones.
“Being a top-class rugby player is about being consistent in your application and making good decisions, and what he’s doing is making a lot of good decisions”. We’ve had games in this series where, if one thing’s going well, something else might not be.
The final assignment of a year-long season offers the glorious prospect of routing the World Cup finalists over three Tests, a mere three months after securing a first Grand Slam since 2003. “To play for England you have to be in the best 23 and that’s what this selection represents”.
Wing Taqele Naiyaravoro still found time to score Australia’s fifth try late on but it was nothing more than a consolation as England celebrated another impressive win.
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“It’s about performance. We’re not happy with our performance, even though we’re happy with the result”.
