Jones: England must smash Australia

Duncan Bech 03:45 11/06/2016
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  • Demanding more: Eddie Jones.

    Eddie Jones is expecting fire and brimstone from Australia when England launch their quest for an historic series victory Down Under.

    The old rivals meet at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday in the first of three Tests that will signpost whether the Grand Slam champions have the potential to justify their head coach’s vision of them becoming the sport’s dominant force by 2019.

    Australia’s passage into the World Cup final last autumn offers perspective on the size of the task facing England, while the friendship between Jones and Michael Cheika, who coaches the Wallabies, adds a personal dimension to the series.

    Jones predicts a ferocious opening scrum will begin the hostilities, but believes the Red Rose will call upon their fighting spirit to meet the onslaught head on.

    “The game’s going to go to a different level on Saturday. Australia are going to be absolutely rampant. This is the first Test they’ve played with expectation on them,” Jones said.

    “Knowing Cheika – and this may be one of the advantages that we have – we understand what the Wallabies are going to come out and do. They will be breathing fire.

    “Just look at the World Cup game in the first scrum – they hit and chase and it’s a penalty, but they don’t care because all they want to do is make a physical statement.

    “That’s how Cheika wants to play the game. It’s going to be a whole different ball game on Saturday.

    “And it’s also part of the English DNA. Every good English side, whether it’s in cricket or rugby, wants to smash people.

    “Winning would be massive. It would make everyone in the world stand up and say ‘maybe they’re trying to do something different now’.”

    While Jones knows a series victory would send shock waves throughout the world game, he understands that the upcoming games may also be make or break for some of his squad.

    “Some of our players will grow and we hope they all grow, but there might be a couple of them that shrink,” Jones said. “If that happens then that’s a great learning experience for them. We want them to have those experiences now, rather than the World Cup.”

    Perhaps to counter the expected English physical barrage, Cheika has beefed up his Australia team.

    The coach has opted for three new caps – ACT Brumbies lock Rory Arnold, Queensland Reds centre Samu Kerevi and Western Force wing Dane Haylett-Petty – to start for Australia in the first of three Tests for the Cook Cup.

    The 2.08 metre (6ft 8in) Arnold will become the tallest man to wear the Wallabies’ gold jersey when he makes his debut alongside 60-Test veteran Rob Simmons.

    Reds outside-back Kerevi will team up with Brumbies centre Tevita Kuridrani to form one of the biggest centre pairings for the Wallabies in an anticipated physical confrontation.

    A fourth new cap – Queensland Reds scrum-half Nick Frisby – was named among the replacements as understudy to first choice Nick Phipps.

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