Autumn Internationals Update: England Rugby Team

Eddie Jones’ England side prepare for 2016 Autumn Internationals Tournament

Reportedly England manager Eddie Jones may use his recent experience of attending the mountain stage of the Tour de France to improve the training of his England side for the upcoming Autumn Internationals that will take place in the United Kingdom starting in November 2016. Jones witnessed the fit bikers covering miles of the Pyrenees in their exciting tournament, while getting inspiration of how to develop higher standards of fitness and endurance for his men.

“It’s quite incredible,” said Jones about the fitness of the Tour cyclists. “Just the toughness of the riders and what they do. They’ve done that nine days in a row. So they’ve got recovery today, and they’ll ride for an hour and a half to recover. That’s professional. We’ve done some good things in rugby, but there’s still a long way to go.” The England rugby team has done well under the leadership of Eddie Jones last season and the Lions are recovering from a full schedule in preparation for the Autumn Internationals tournament – their next onslaught. The schedule for next season’s tour to New Zealand, will provide impetus for the England players to get prepared to meet perhaps the top team on the planet in battle.

Jones believes that the old fashioned notion that rugby players should be shielded from exhaustion is untrue. And England’s recent climb back up the top of the rugby union world rankings while competing in a full schedule of matches proves England’s ability to perform effectively, even in the grip of complete fatigue. Jones mentioned that England pulled up to win in the final 20 minutes of each of England’s three Test victories in Australia. England won the last quarter of all of three of the hard-fought games.

“The third Test was quite interesting. We were playing away from home and it was eight penalties to nil to us in the final quarter. That is what won us the series. Giving away a penalty and not giving away a penalty is a decision. We made good decisions at the end of the games. It’s what we were talking about with the Tour de France,” continued Jones. “Those guys go up that first slope for 45 minutes. It was tiring enough driving up there. And then they’ve got to keep going for another four and a half hours. That’s not physical toughness, that’s mental toughness and our guys exhibited that in that third Test, which was really pleasing.”

Jones criticized his side’s performance in the second Test as “terrible” and the defense in Tests one and three as disappointing, needing more of the desired mental toughness. “You’re never there,” said Jones. “It only takes one thing to change, one person to come into the squad and change the dynamic. So it is something we’ve always got to be aware of. Complacency is always around the corner.”

Jones will add new rugby players in his 45-man Elite Player Squad to be announced in October for the Autumn Internationals. The under-20s England side carried them to another Junior World Championship. Jones predicts that two of the under-20s side will be added to his side come October - perhaps Harry Mallinder will be one of the two. “He’s definitely not a 10,” said Jones about Mallinder. “He’s probably a 12 but he is going to have to get a bit more robustness about him. He’s only a young lad, and I’m sure he can do that.” Meanwhile England and Wasps flanker James Haskell will be out four to six months with toe injury. Haskell will have reconstructive surgery on his big toe and will miss out on England’s Autumn International clash against South Africa at Twickenham in November.

Reportedly Haskell is expected to be sidelined for four to six months due to the injury he sustained against Australia. The 31-year-old has to have reconstructive surgery on his big toe after being injured during England’s second Test victory over Australia in Melbourne in June. Haskell missed the third Test while his England teammates claimed a history-making 3-0 series whitewash against the Wallabies. Haskell, who has 70 caps, was named “Man of the Series” in Australia on England’s impressive winning run under the leadership of Eddie Jones. Wasps manager Dai Young hopes for a speedy recovery for Haskell.

“We’re all really disappointed for James and we are all wishing him a speedy recovery. James’ performances with England, both in the 3-0 series win over Australia and in England’s Six Nations Grand Slam success, have been hugely impressive,” said Young. “Everyone at Wasps knows how hard James works to make those performances happen and we know he’ll be working just as hard to come back in the best shape possible,” continued Young. “Our medical team will be working closely with him over the next few months to get him back to full fitness and in the meantime there will be a good opportunity for the other back-row players we have at the club to stake a claim.”

Wasps begin their Premiership campaign in early September, and the opening 4weekends of the European Champions Cup fixtures take place in October and December. Wasps were semi-finalists in both competitions last season. Northampton forward Teimana Harrison made his Test debut as Haskell’s replacement against Australia in Sydney but was substituted out after 30 minutes, replaced by Courtney Lawes, Itoje moving to No 6, and Chris Robshaw switching to openside. Jones will determine a back-row reshuffle in the fall, possibly meaning a move for lock Maro Itoje.

Nathan Hughes is viewed as a potential No 6. Ben Te’o did well on tour down under. Nineteen year old Ospreys flanker Sam Underhill is based in Wales and may be ineligible for England selection due to the RFU rule on players based outside England. England has definitely improved since their disgrace of an early exit from the 2015 World Cup. “We are definitely fitter but we’re nowhere near as fit as we’re going to be for the World Cup in 2019, which is the great thing for us.”

Jones believes discomfort is the defining quality of a professional sportsman’s existence as he looks ahead to a Lions tour next summer, and redemption at the next Rugby Union World Cup in 2019.

Autumn Internationals Rugby Union Tickets

There are some amazing rugby union matches coming up in the United Kingdom this fall as the Autumn Internationals feature not-to-be-missed games between Wales v Australia on November 5th at Millenium Stadium Cardiff; England and S. Africa will go face-to-face at Twickenham Stadium on November 12th; and England will host the Wallabies from down under on December 3rd at Twickenham. The very best 2016 Autumn Internationals tickets for all fixtures are for sale now online at cheap prices at LiveRugbyTickets.co.uk.

Wales v Australia Tickets 5 Nov 2016 Millenium Stadium Cardiff, UK

England v South Africa Tickets 12 Nov 2016 Twickenham Stadium Twickenham, UK

England v Australia Tickets 3 Dec 2016 Twickenham Stadium Twickenham, UK