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England rugby: How Eddie Jones' team improved to end 2016 unbeaten

By Chris JonesBBC Radio 5 live rugby reporter

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments198

A year on from the deflation of the Rugby World Cup, England capped their annus mirabilis by coming from behind to stun Australia 37-21 at Twickenham - equalling the 14-Test winning record of the 2003 vintage.

As a game it served as a microcosm of England's improvements under Eddie Jones; be it the response to adversity, the dominant set-piece, or the clinical way they finished off their four tries.

But after 15 minutes, England's dreams of completing the perfect 2016 looked to be going up in smoke as Australia tore Jones' side to shreds.

So how were they able to respond to the Wallaby blitz, and what has set England apart this year?

Using setbacks as a springboard

"England were terrible in the first 20 minutes," former England fly-half Paul Grayson told BBC Radio 5 live.

"But when they were hanging on by their fingernails, they found a way not to concede.

"England have found a way to use setbacks as a springboard to recovery - and ultimately they managed to shift the momentum of the game.

"In this game it came through the accuracy of Ben Youngs' box-kicking, the effectiveness of their chase, and the intensity of their midfield press, which ultimately led to the Jonathan Joseph try which completely altered the course of the game."

World-class players

Ben Youngs
Ben Youngs had one of this best games in an England shirt and staked a claim for a Lions starting place

Since the halcyon days of Martin Johnson and Jonny Wilkinson, England have lacked a crop of 'World XV' players, as evidenced by the paucity of Englishmen to have excelled in a Lions Test shirt on the past two tours.

Indeed, Jones spoke this autumn about how England have yet to develop a world-class player since Wilkinson, although in the aftermath of the autumn he admits some of his men are nearing that status.

"I think we are getting there. Ben Youngs put down a marker to go on the Lions tour," Jones told BBC Radio 5 live. "George Ford was outstanding again today, and Mako Vunipola is a great player."

Youngs has arguably been England's player of the autumn, with his brilliant individual try sealing the win over the Wallabies.

"He's been incredible this season," World Cup winning scrum-half Matt Dawson told BBC Radio 5 live.

"He's grown as a rugby player and a person and has developed his game incredibly well. To keep improving week in, week out is a real credit to him."

England had few players dominating a Lions Test series in 2009 and 2013 - that will surely change in New Zealand next summer.

Strength in depth

Nathan Hughes
Number eight Nathan Hughes impressed on his first start, in place of the injured Billy Vunipola

Before the autumn, England were beset by injuries to key players, with Grand Slam winners Maro Itoje, George Kruis, James Haskell, Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell among those to be ruled out.

But, in their absence, the likes of Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood and Jonny May have excelled, while Nathan Hughes replaced Billy Vunipola against Australia and made a significant impact in the second half.

"For England to be competitive at the World Cup in 2019 they don't need 15 players, they need 36 players," Dawson added.

"That is in the forefront of Eddie Jones and his management's mind."

Jones also hailed the performance of Hughes, who after a nervous opening grew into his first Test start.

"That was a massive game for him today - by far the biggest game he has every played in - and I thought he acquitted himself very well," Jones said.

"During the warm-up he couldn't catch a ball, if you gave him £1,000 he couldn't catch it. He was nervous and to play like that is a real testament to his character.

"It doesn't get much bigger than this, and the way he was able to fight through his nerves was outstanding. Goodness me, we have two good number eights, don't we?"

As England arrived at Twickenham on Sunday, Itoje, 21, made his Saracens return from a fractured hand that has ruled him out since October.

But, England's impressive performances have ensured Jones has not missed World Rugby's breakthrough player of the year.

"Who has mentioned Itoje [this autumn]?" asked Dawson.

"In four games we haven't mentioned him once, and that shows the quality in this side and the strength in depth."

Another Grand Slam?

Dylan Hartley
Dylan Hartley has grown in the role of England captain since replacing Chris Robshaw after last year's World Cup

Having equalled their winning record of 14 successive victories, England can pass it on the opening day of the 2017 Six Nations when they face France at Twickenham on 4 February.

With further home games against Italy and Scotland - as well as a fixture in Cardiff against a stuttering Wales - England may well go to Dublin on the final weekend with a second Grand Slam in as many years in their sights.

"We are not looking at records, just the next game. But we can draw a line under this year with a good victory against a quality side," skipper Dylan Hartley said on BBC Radio 5 live.

"I'm very proud of the guys over the last few weeks, and it's nice to go back to our clubs knowing we have done English rugby and the shirt proud.

"We leave it in a good place until the Six Nations."

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198 comments

  • Comment posted by User0311269111, at 08:33 4 Dec 2016

    Just love Eddies man management, got the respect of the players, straight talking. The way he dealt with Daly's red card. " I walk out of the door every day and make mistakes " sublime.

  • Comment posted by AndSleep, at 09:33 4 Dec 2016

    @27 All teams are multi-cultural these days chap. The UK in general is a multi-cultural society, something you appear to have overlooked. Being mixed race, I like that facet of our overall make-up. Are you suggesting that we should field a team of purely white, blue eyed boys, because your comment has a pretty unsavoury undertone to it? In fact is there any team not field ethnic minorities?

  • Comment posted by ovalball, at 08:25 4 Dec 2016

    Confidence and belief are so important in sport

    and that is what Eddie has brought

    our media

    including the BBC

    spend all of there time sucking the belief and confidence out of England teams

    Eddie has built a wall around the player's that allows them to ignore all that nonsense and just get on a play

    to be themselves and show us all
    what they can do

  • Comment posted by djg, at 08:25 4 Dec 2016

    My dad told me when I was a boy that I had won the jackpot being born English. This morning after watching the match again I have never felt luckier. Proud of the red rose well done England

  • Comment posted by Sir Unkleir Starmer, at 08:52 4 Dec 2016

    @4djg your dad was right. But being English we must remain modest in victory, magnanimous in defeat and rise above the vitriol and vile abuse hurled at us by some of our bitter and twisted near neighbours much of which is evidenced on these rugby forums.

  • Comment posted by Bomber, at 08:22 4 Dec 2016

    I said at the time that england were the real winners at the World Cup, as they could identify the problem at coach, address it and move forward. Wales were the real losers, stuck with the same old coaching team, no will to change them and no desire to move forward. Lancaster (625, beaten NZ) was fired whereas Gatland (49%, no wins over NZ ever) remains. Three more years of mediocrity for us.

  • Comment posted by User0763840389, at 08:39 4 Dec 2016

    What's so impressive about all this is that we beat Australia...again despite missing key players. I genuinely thought we might lose this without Billy. How wrong was I. So the upshot is we can beat sh sides with a 'b' team , Wales cannot beat them with their 1st team 😉

  • Comment posted by Glad All Over - CPFC, at 09:16 4 Dec 2016

    I think someone coming in who is not English makes a big difference. They take all the negativity away, calls the press out for some of their comments that don't help, and let's the players get on with it.
    I remember early on when England had won, yet Eddie Jones had to shut down a journalist who wanted to ask questions about Ford missing a couple of kicks.

  • Comment posted by U16603232, at 12:59 4 Dec 2016

    99. Sk1d
    @93 Walesforever1 Do you think any of your chippy twaddle means anything to anyone. It's actually laughable. No matter what the sport, whether Wales are involved or not, you're always on here sounding off about England. It's quite tragic really.
    Would you like some salt and vinegar for that enormous chip?

    Even more tragic given he lives and works in the country he hates.

  • Comment posted by morebalanceplease, at 08:40 4 Dec 2016

    It is still a forwards game for England. The difference is that all the forwards are ball players. They go forward at pace and this means the backs are on the front foot when they get the ball. Good hands, forward momentum, confidence. Plus a bit of luck. Simple.

  • Comment posted by AndSleep, at 10:20 4 Dec 2016

    @56. Millie Marmite

    Dear Millie,

    The chaps are having a day off responding to utterly, pointless attempts at trolling. Is it OK if we get back to you sometime nest week?

    Best regards,
    A Rugby Supporter

  • Comment posted by Blah Blah Blah, at 10:05 4 Dec 2016

    As a Welsh fan I'm obviously gutted my team seem to be at the bottom of a development cycle, but its great to see NH rugby and rugby itself in such rude health. We just need to support the Pacific Islands more, Nobody could argue that if Fiji had money, and could stop being pillaged by Tier 1, they could be world beaters. Cant wait for the Lions, its going to be brutal

  • Comment posted by Eggieplant, at 08:40 4 Dec 2016

    What I like about EJ is he doesn't pussy foot around the media. Tells it as it is and is not afraid to go on the front foot.

    Something a lot of coaches in all sports are scared to do.

  • Comment posted by User0302385138, at 20:01 4 Dec 2016

    154 Manynamesofwalesforever

    I am at peace with most sensible Welsh fans but... it struck me today that England have beaten Australia more times in the past 7 months than Wales have...errr...ever! :-)

  • Comment posted by Bothams Taches, at 11:17 4 Dec 2016

    61. Botany Bay
    All this talk about the N/H improvement, yet the only damp squid in the S/H is Springboks

    All squids are damp by virtue of them being in the sea.
    If you want to attempt to troll, make sure you are correct.
    The saying is 'damp squib' not 'damp squid'
    Maybe it's different in your upside down World but you are posting in the UK now.
    Damp squid indeed.

  • Comment posted by User0763840389, at 11:32 4 Dec 2016

    Ah the biggest t*t on HYS. whingeforever1. You must be devastated at our improvements an ability to beat sh sides unlike your beloved Wales. Wooden spoon for you lot next year. Title between England and Ireland.

  • Comment posted by AndSleep, at 10:03 4 Dec 2016

    For the benefit of a few on here who appear to have missed the point, this is a rugby thread, meant to afford kids and grown-ups alike the opportunity to discuss the rugby. The constant interracial sniping is therefore best left to alternative forums as it is as lacking in insight as it is tedious and irrelevant.

    How about just talking rugby and not turning this into yet another slanging match?

  • Comment posted by AndSleep, at 10:15 4 Dec 2016

    Only a year ago, our only 'centre of excellence' was the 2nd row with Lawes & Launchbury a decent match up for any opponent. Today, in a fully match fit squad, neither starts even though both are playing their best rugby.

    It's a slightly surreal set of circumstances after RWC15.The way that EJ has developed the younger players (old ones too) is astounding and Dylan as captain? Really, who knew?

  • Comment posted by hathos, at 08:36 4 Dec 2016

    @6 Yes it is going to be one of the closest 6 Nations. England must be favourites, though, and it is really a shame England did not play New Zealand.

  • Comment posted by Sk1d, at 12:12 4 Dec 2016

    @82 Walesforever1

    Crying about the English success again. God you're a chippy little sad case!

    shaking in our boots about coming to Cardif to play the team that could barely see off Japan!

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