The Australian was buoyed by his side’s emphatic victory over his countrymen at Twickenham.
Eddie Jones has weathered the storm and looks set to stay on as England coach up until the 2019 World Cup, at the very least.
Jones was offered a contract with the RFU up to 2021 after he helped England to Six Nations titles in 2016 and 2017. The idea behind the deal was that Jones would stay in the helm as the next head coach in line would learn the ropes on his watch.
That seemed like a good idea 18 months ago but England endured a rough time of it in the 2018 Six Nations, and on tour in South Africa. It good so dicey, during the summer, that Jones was left arguing with reporters about whether a loss to the Barbarians should be part of his losing streak or not.
The November internationals could have proved a death-knell for the Aussie but England have won three from four [South Africa, Japan and Australia] and controversially lost to New Zealand at Twickeham.
Following his side’s 37-18 victory over Michael Cheika’s Wallabies – helped, in part, by a shocking piece of refereeing by Jaco Peyper – Jones was already looking ahead to England’s next game. He was practically itching for it.
England’s Six Nations opener, in February 2019, is against an Ireland side that will be looking to defend their title, claim back-to-back Grand Slams and go to number one in the world. The game will be an evening kick-off in Dublin too, so the atmosphere should be electric.
In a post-match chat with the BBC’s Chris Jones, the England head coach teed the game up, three months out:
https://twitter.com/chjones9/status/1066383524897406976
The responses to that comment, so far, have been mixed.
On current form not sure that would be a good idea?
— Simon Trenchard (@simontrenchard) November 24, 2018
So do we #COYBIG
— Finbarr Bevan (@FinbarrBevan) November 24, 2018
That’s the spirit! Make hay while the sun shines 🌹👌🏉
— Veronique Landew (@veroniquelandew) November 24, 2018
yeah yeah yeah
Eddie talking shite as usual— Seán Mahon🇮🇪 (@badseamus) November 24, 2018
As if this one is going to need any more spice.
