England are not done yet…we want to make history – Eddie Jones

England skipper Dylan Hartley has led a chorus of assertions that his record-equalling side will not allow history to slip from their grasp during their crunch Six Nations clash against Ireland on Saturday.

Eddie Jones is preparing his side for a “World Cup final” when England travel to Ireland this weekend for the historic Six Nations Grand Slam decider, and insisted that they recently-crowned champions will not be beaten on their quest to re-write the record books.

Jones is wary of Hansen’s approval, however, as the rival coaches exchange words for the first time since England’s rise as a genuine threat to New Zealand’s global dominance.

In the meantime, the Australian coach is determined any compliments from the New Zealand camp will not turn his head or that of anyone else in his England squad.

“We want to put in a performance for them and the people who are close to us”.

“We’ve come a long way”.

“Last year we were nervous and I expect us to be nervous this year”, he said.

Shona Powell-Hughes’ then went over for a converted try, as Wales capitalised on a Peat yellow card, but Ireland did likewise when a sin-binning preceded winger Hannah Tyrrell’s decisive try – her second in as many games – with 17 minutes remaining.

“It’s a big occasion next week”. “You can feel within the team there’s a different intensity about the way we do things”.

England’s current run has given them plenty of confidence ahead of the World Cup in Japan in 2019 and Jones wants them to grasp the opportunity with both hands. No player was in the starting XI for each of New Zealand’s wins, although Kieran Read and Ben Smith were involved in all the games.

The Calcutta Cup will no doubt be tucked away safely in a Twickenham strong room – where it has spent most of the last few decades – and England’s ultra-professional players will replace lost fluids with scientifically researched electrolyte drinks.

But the loudest cheer of the day came when fans’ favourite Vunipola replaced Nathan Hughes, the starting No 8, early in the second half.

“If they pick me, they pick me for a reason”, he said. While the English managed to win 3-nil in Australia. “The players and staff bring their families and enjoy themselves”, he told reporters.

But for all the Scots missed tackles, there was much to admire in the quality of Joseph’s running and the precision of the play that helped create the tries the centre finished in style. Any time we lose we’re very hard on ourselves and we’re very critical of ourselves. “You’re together eight or nine weeks to get to a World Cup final”, reflected Jones yesterday.

On the injury front, Wasps winger/centre Elliot Daly is expected to recover from concussion.