sport news Eddie's right to go big for series opener against Australia as Jones is set to ... trends now
This is a good England team to face Australia and one I think will win by five or six points.
When you are under pressure as an international coach, you revert to type and that's what Eddie Jones has done for the series opener in Perth by going for his big guns.
I remember a conversation I had with Eddie once. He said: 'A good big 'un will always beat a good little 'un.' That's a mantra he has gone by throughout his career.
Eddie Jones tends to revert to his bigger guns when his back is against the wall as head coach
Jonny Hill will have a tough task keeping Australia's Michael Hooper out the game
Eddie has always gone back to size and power when he needs to win. He did it when I coached against him and he picked giants Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri.
I went for a different approach and preferred fast players such as Jason Robinson and Josh Lewsey because I felt we could run Eddie's Australia off the pitch. But that doesn't mean being direct and physical is wrong. Far from it.
Before England's last tour Down Under in 2016, Jones referenced the 'Bodyline' Ashes series of 1932-33. Well, I think this series will be Bodyline 2. England will try to out-muscle the Wallabies and smash them up, and have a great forward pack with which to do it.
Five of the eight forwards who will start in Perth are world class - Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry and Billy Vunipola - and should start for England at the World Cup.
Courtney Lawes will win his 94th cap in the first Test having captained England five times
England's pack is definitely good enough to win it, but I'd reiterate Lawes' best position is second row, not flanker. I also have no problem with him captaining the side. Both Lawes and Owen Farrell are very good leaders and will drive the team around the pitch anyway.
Australia do have the quicker side but England are more powerful. Their pack should be superior and Eddie has also gone for some giant backs such as Joe Cokanasiga on the wing.
It should be enough for victory and England need to win this Test otherwise it could be a long tour. They have been on a downward spiral since the 2019 World Cup final. The team have lost the aura it had when Eddie initially took charge.
We need to get that back as soon as possible if England are to be World Cup contenders. Winning in Australia is a crucial part of that.
Billy Vunipola was born in Sydney and will play his 62nd England match in his birth country
read more from dailymail.....
