Cheika extends olive branch to Jones after fourth loss to England

The 13 consecutive wins since Jones took charge of England have lifted them to second in the world rankings, behind the All Blacks, who were robbed of their own flawless year by Ireland’s stunning win in Chicago last month.

The hostility has provided the backdrop to England’s attempt to register their first unblemished year since 1992 and Jones insists his team is ready to secure a fourth successive victory over Australia.

“There’s clocks around (Twickenham) which say how many days until the World Cup final – 1,020 days”.

“We will continue to grow our group in 2017 so by the time we get to 2018 we will have a good selection to choose from and can narrow that down”, said Cheika. “That’s what we’re aiming to do”. [Owen] Farrell’s an excellent goal kicker so they’re able to acquire points well off penalties etcetera, and then they’ve played with pressure and I think with their ranking at number two in the world.

Jones says his team can’t get ahead of itself.

“We’re hell bent on achieving that”.

“But we’ve definitely improved a lot as a team and we’ve got a lot of young lads with Test experience, and that’s only going to build”.

“They are doing the right things and their growing assertiveness and growing desire to get better is fantastic”.

“Australia came out hard in the first half and we knew that was going to happen and they played some very good rugby”, Jones said.

Their total of 14 wins began at the 2015 World Cup win against Uruguay and they are now just four short of catching the All Black’s record set this year.

Australia led 10-0 and had three tries ruled out in an incredibly one-sided first quarter but they led only 16-13 at the break and barely got another look at the England line. We don’t have that yet.

It was a completely different team who came out in the second half with Marland Yarde and Ben Youngs crossing while Owen Farrell added two more conversions and a penalty.

An extraordinary opening 20 minutes left Australia in total control and, if the TMO had been on their side, they could have been out of sight.

“When you win how many games we’ve won in a row, that’s when you’re at your most vulnerable”. To win the second half 24-5 is a really fair effort.

Jones praised Nathan Hughes, who impressed as deputy to Billy Vunipola at number eight, and is encouraged at his side’s growing depth.

“We’ve made decisions around this season as opposed to starting next season when the calendar isn’t perhaps as packed”, said Cheika. Australia are full of attacking talent and will be desperate to avenge their dismal series defeat against them.

Given England coach Eddie Jones already considered Australia’s media “disrespectful” during last June’s Test series, he would probably not have enjoyed his depiction as a “malevolent clown” in a national newspaper on Saturday.

Though Jones said he took “zero” satisfaction from beating the country of his birth, his highlight from a stellar year was whitewashing the Wallabies 3-0 in their own back yard.

Both coaches have taken swipes at each other in the build-up to tomorrow morning’s (AEST) clash at Twickenham, but Jones said it was just harmless banter.