England ‘going in right direction’ says Jones after Wallabies win

Issued on: 16/07/2022 – 15:28Modified: 16/07/2022 – 15:26

Sydney (AFP) – Embattled coach Eddie Jones believes his team is heading in the “right direction” after England’s come-from-behind 21-17 victory in the deciding third Test on Saturday to seal a bruising series at a sold-out Sydney Cricket Ground.

Jones’s men slumped 10-3 behind, but bounced back with 18 unanswered points to take control and hold off a frantic late charge from the Wallabies.

After tries for Freddie Steward and Marcus Smith, England’s fiercely tackling defence thwarted the Wallabies to claim the newly-minted Ella-Mobbs Cup with a 2-1 series victory.

Jones’s team became only the second England side to win a series in Australia after a historic whitewash in 2016.

The triumph is a much-needed tonic for Jones, who has been under increasing pressure ahead of next year’s World Cup in France after an indifferent start to the year for England.

“We weren’t at our best in this Test, but we kept fighting and we kept in the game, particularly the defence of our finishers at the end and that got us the result,” Jones told Sky Sports.

“It’s a really positive step. We’ve always felt the team is going in the right direction.

“Sometimes the results don’t reflect that.”

England captain Courtney Lawes, who had contentiously been preferred to lead the side ahead of Owen Farrell, echoed Jones’s sentiments and praised the team’s resilience.

“We fought for each other, we have had a great four weeks here, really enjoyed ourselves,” he said.

“The boys just stuck together and found a way to win and that’s the big improvement, I think.”

It was a bitter result for the Wallabies, who have been trying to usher in a new era after a period in the wilderness.

Dave Rennie’s men were hit hard through by injury and suspension, which tested their depth and resolve as they fell agonisingly short.

“We created good opportunities tonight, but just not good enough to execute them,” Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said.

“There were areas that hurt us, like right before half-time when they got that try. But also some pleasing elements, but it hurts.”

Prior to their tense series win in Perth, Australia had lost eight straight games to England since the 2015 World Cup and were desperate to wrap up a series against their old rivals.

After a dire first-half proved costly in game two in Brisbane, the Wallabies lived up to their vow of starting aggressively only for Noah Lolesio to botch a penalty in the opening minutes.

The pumped-up Wallabies dominated territory but blundered away opportunities and failed to capitalise on their early dominance.

England made them pay in the 18th minute when former skipper Farrell nailed a penalty.

But Australia hit back superbly with a long-range try set up by a brilliant pass from Marika Koroibete and finished off by Tom Wright.

England remained unperturbed and were rewarded on the cusp of half-time for their bold decision to go for touch from a penalty instead of taking the points when Steward dived over in the corner to give the visitors a narrow 11-10 lead.

England’s momentum continued after the break and they pulled clear when Smith pounced after Lolesio spilled the ball from a scrappy Australia lineout and sprinted 60 metres to score gleefully under the posts to stretch the lead to 21-10.

An increasingly desperate Australia went back on the attack and were rewarded in the 66th minute when hooker Folau Fainga’a barged over for a try to reduce the deficit to four points and breathe life into the contest.

But England’s indefatigable defence held firm against Australia’s late rally to defy the rowdy SCG crowd in what was likely to be the historic venue’s final rugby international.

© 2022 AFP