Eddie Jones reveled in silencing Australia fans after England tied the series with a close second win of the test to establish a decisive one in Sydney next week. Jones revealed that Wallabies fans had warned him that his team would be “belted” in Brisbane, where Australia had won its previous 10 games, and he really liked to shut them up.
Jones, however, revealed that England will be without Maro Itoje for the third test after the Saracen block suffered a nasty concussion towards the end of the first half, while Sam Underhill also hesitated after suffering a head injury. However, England will head to Sydney with encouragement after 20 points from the man of the match, Owen Farrell, and a first attempt by Billy Vunipola was enough to make up for his first defeat in the test in Perth.
“I loved this game at Suncorp,” Jones said. “This is a good experience. You have 48,000 people full of drink and all they want to see is their team’s victory. When you reject them, it’s a great experience. A great feeling.
“I was coming out of the coaches’ box and everyone is wearing their handkerchiefs. When did the Australians start wearing scarves? It’s fashionable, isn’t it? Now they are not so smart. Before the game they come and tell me, “Tonight you’re going to put on your belt.” Now they are a little calmer. So it’s good. I enjoy that. “
Maro Itoje is injured. The third test will have to be missed. Photography: Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
The victory means Jones has won all seven internationals at Suncorp Stadium: five with Australia and two with England. He was under increasing pressure to comply with England’s arrival in Brisbane with a streak of four consecutive defeats and was criticized for describing the second test as a practice for next year’s World Cup.
“I think it’s fantastic,” he added. “I love that my mom calls me in the morning saying,‘ Are you going to be fired? Are you going to be fired? When do you have to move? Will you be back in Australia? He returns and lives in Randwick. I love that. My poor mother. But I don’t care because I’ve decided to take the job and that will always happen because now there’s a crush on firing coaches, right?
“It’s 1-1. And now the pressure is on the other mafia. So they have to deal with that pressure. We’ll find ways to improve. We’re a very young and inexperienced team. It takes time to put things together, and we will be more cohesive next week. “
England took a 19-0 lead after a furious start at Suncorp Stadium before resisting a backlash from Australia after Itoje withdrew as a result of a collision with Hunter Paisami. Underhill followed in the second half, but Australia also have their injury problems, with Jordan Petaia, Caderyn Neville, Izaia Perese and Scott Sio. “The medical situation with Maro is that he will not be available next week,” Jones said. “Underhill, we’re still evaluating, across all protocols.”
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Jones debuted Guy Porter in the outside center and Tommy Freeman in the end, while Jack van Poortvliet had a first outing in the middle of scrum. All three acted admirably, but Jones reserved special praise for Farrell, who arrived in Australia “very unhappy” to lose the captaincy and missed costly kicks in Perth. “Owen is Owen,” Jones added. “It never changes, I hate the world, the best competitor I’ve ever trained. This includes George Gregan. Fight hard, love battle, push standards. He ‘s an amazing player. “