England are just one game - 80 minutes - from rugby immortality as the Six Nations entersits final weekend with the world watching. <\/p>\n
Beat Ireland in Dublin tomorrow and they will achieve in the words of their coach, Eddie Jones, \"greatness\", because not only will they become the first country in the 17-year history of the Six Nations to win back-to-back Grand Slams, and they will surpass the All Blacks' record of 18 consecutive Test match wins. <\/p>\n
\"It's going to be quite an occasion in Dublin so we understand we have to be prepared emotionally, physically and mentally,\" said Jones. \"We've had a really good week's preparation. The intensity of training has been good. The mood in camp has been positive. We're very excited ahead of what is a huge opportunity for the players.\" <\/p>\n
Jones has made two changes to the starting XV that thrashed Scotland last week, bringing in fit-again Billy Vunipola for Nathan Hughes at number eight and and replacing Jack Nowell on the wing with Anthony Watson. Elliot Daly, who was forced off after a heavy tackle last week, is fit to start on the left wing. <\/p>\n
When the Six Nations started six weeks ago tomorrow's match at the Aviva Stadium was expected to be a Grand Slam decider but Irish defeats to Scotland and Wales means their overriding aim is to end England's winning run, as they did New Zealand's by beating them in Chicago in November. <\/p>\n
\"They'll have all guns blazing,\" said Jones. \"They were favourites for the competition but now they're out of it so we're expecting a tough encounter... not having anything to play for means they have the courage to fail which frees them up mentally.\" <\/p>\n
Jones believes England could be \"a little bit vulnerable\" after last weekend's win against Scotland, which saw them crowned champions with a match to spare. \"For us it's getting the right mind-set for the game,\" said Jones, whose side struggled to overcome France, Italy and Wales earlier in the tournament. <\/p>\n
Jones likened the 18-match winning run to climbing a mountain, \"where every time you go up it becomes harder and the ground becomes more unstable\", and asked what his biggest concern was ahead of tomorrow's clash, he replied: \"Complacency is always lurking in the shadows.\" <\/p>\n
Jones was also generous in paying tribute to his predecessor, Stuart Lancaster, sacked after England's dismal 2015 World Cup performance when they failed to get out of the group stage. \"Lancaster deserves a lot of credit for bringing most of the guys through,\" said the Australian. But it's a question that has been taxing the pundits and the public in the 18 months since England last lost a Test match. How much of it is down to Jones and how much to Lancaster, who as his successor pointed out, spotted and developed many of the players now at the heart of the England squad. <\/p>\n
The New Zealand press, who know Jones well from his time coaching Australia between 2001 and 2005, believe he deserves most of the acclaim for it's he who has added a mental toughness to the players that was previously absent. <\/p>\n
\"Self-belief is now so ingrained that they are on the cusp of setting a new record for tier-one test victories,\" said the New Zealand Herald. \"Prior to the arrival of Jones, England were in danger of plunging into a death spiral and morale was low. Things rapidly changed...the difference is Jones encouraged his players to add an even sharper edge, and be more resilient.\" <\/p>\n
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Eddie Jones and England one game from rugby immortality - The Week UK<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" England are just one game - 80 minutes - from rugby immortality as the Six Nations entersits final weekend with the world watching. Beat Ireland in Dublin tomorrow and they will achieve in the words of their coach, Eddie Jones, \"greatness\", because not only will they become the first country in the 17-year history of the Six Nations to win back-to-back Grand Slams, and they will surpass the All Blacks' record of 18 consecutive Test match wins. Continue reading