Eddie Jones mentioned England’s defeat by South Africa was “solely my fault” however believes they will have a “actually good go” at subsequent yr’s World Cup.
Head coach Jones apologised for the efficiency however mentioned his gamers have been nonetheless not off course, 10 months out from the World Cup.
“We’re dissatisfied we did not play how we wished to,” Jones instructed Amazon Prime.
“South Africa do issues to you which might be some occasions troublesome to take care of.
“We did not land a shot like we wished to. It’s important to win contests and we did not win within the air or the set-piece, so it is arduous to get within the recreation.
“We misplaced two of the important thing contests however we are going to enhance in these areas. Outcomes inform you the whole lot and that’s what we’re judged by however I really feel like there may be development within the staff, which we now have seen, however wasn’t evident at the moment.”
Jones’ aspect have misplaced six of 12 Exams within the calendar yr, England’s worst run since 2008.
Defeat by the Springboks adopted a comeback draw in opposition to New Zealand, a victory over Japan and a defeat by Argentina in a disappointing autumn schedule.
Requested if he was nonetheless assured in his capacity to steer the aspect into subsequent yr’s World Cup in France, Jones mentioned: “I take into consideration the place we’re going in the direction of a World Cup.
“Clearly we wish to win video games and achieve success however are we shifting in the fitting route? Sure we’re.
“I’ve coached for plenty of years and I consider I can coach properly. Individuals will say what they are saying, and there are ups and downs in sport however we did not play properly at the moment and I apologise for that, it is solely my fault.”
He added: “Clearly on outcomes, we’re not comfortable however I really feel like we’re constructing a extremely good base to have a extremely good go on the World Cup, a extremely good go.
“Quite a lot of younger gamers bought nice expertise at the moment they usually’ll come again higher gamers for that. We have different gamers coming again to kind, a few of our extra senior gamers and we’re not far-off.
“We have to develop persistently. Take a look at match rugby is all about consistency.”
‘The plan was clear’
England centre Manu Tuilagi, who gained his fiftieth cap, acknowledged that South Africa compelled England into errors.
“It was a troublesome recreation,” Tuilagi instructed Amazon Prime. “We wished to come back out and assault, which I believed we did initially however the Springboks have been powerful and bodily they usually put quite a lot of strain on us. They compelled us to make errors they usually capitalised on it.
“The plan was clear however South Africa are a high quality aspect they usually put us beneath quite a lot of strain. We weren’t ok at the moment and we now have to take it on the chin.
“We’re constructing properly. Generally it is arduous for folks to see that however we positively consider in that.”
England captain Owen Farrell, Tuliagi’s midfield companion, mentioned the aspect would come again stronger.
“It has not labored out for ourselves at the moment and we weren’t capable of present the very best of ourselves however we now have put in some good work over the previous 5 weeks and we now have to guarantee that is just not for nothing,” mentioned Farrell.
“We lacked a little bit of accuracy and chew at occasions. The sport was actually gradual to start out which they’re excellent at. We did not get our enamel caught in very like that Argentina recreation, we should be taught to do higher.”
South Africa ended the yr on a excessive after narrowly dropping in Eire and France earlier than beating Italy final weekend.
Captain Siya Kolisi, who lifted the World Cup in 2019, mentioned: “It’s a huge aid for us. We have now been working actually arduous over the previous few months.
“I do know some outcomes have not gone our approach however we’re nonetheless grateful to get the sort of help we’re getting from again house.
“England have been powerful initially however we simply caught to our weapons and tweaked just a few issues.”
