England preparing for Pocock - Jones

David Pocock has been ruled out of the rest of the Test series by the Australian Rugby Union due to a fractured eye socket. 

10:39 AM GMT

• 

  Tom HamiltonRugby Editor

  Close

  • Joined ESPN in 2011
  • Grew up in Bath but has New Zealand roots
  • Covered England for the past two seasons, including their tour to New Zealand
  • Was ESPN's man on the ground for the 2013 British & Irish Lions series

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Eddie Jones is preparing England to face an Australia side featuring David Pocock on Saturday despite the Wallabies saying he faces a layoff of between four and six weeks.

Pocock picked up a fractured eye socket in their defeat in Brisbane and a statement from the Australian Rugby Union said he had been "ruled out of the England Test series" but Jones is wary of this being a smokescreen from the Wallabies.

"Pocock is certainly a good player and we wish him all the best and a speedy recovery," Jones said on Monday. "I just hope he doesn't recover in time for Saturday and you never know."

He added: "I don't know if he is going to be in or out. We will prepare as though he is going to play."

While England are preparing for the threat of Pocock, they are not concerned over Dan Cole's scrummaging after he was accused of an illegal technique by Rugby World Cup-winning former Wallabies hooker Phil Kearns after Saturday's opening Test.

"It will be interesting if the referees -- I'm not sure if they go back and watch 'Spider-cam' at all, but Dan Cole was angling right in the whole time," Kearns said. "It's pretty obvious to see.

"Yeah, Scotty Sio didn't have his best scrummaging performance and Cole was dominant but referees, take a good, long, hard look at yourself."

Jones, however, was unperturbed by Kearns' sentiments and played down any significance over his interpretation putting it down to mind games.

"Phil is part of an organised campaign and he is playing his role," Jones said. "And he is playing a very good role.

"We are lucky we have got a fantastic referee at the weekend. Craig Joubert has refereed at least one World Cup final and is one of the most respected referees in the world. I am sure he will be able to referee the scrums well. But I am sure he will appreciate the advice Phil has given him. I am sure he will.

"Every couple of days someone comes up with something. I have been part of it, I know how it works. So let's not beat around the bush, we know how it works here and everyone is entitled to their opinion."

And Jones feels Australia will be focused on improving their lineout ahead of the second Test. Jones added: "In the last couple of Tests their lineout has really been under pressure. I'm sure Stephen Moore, a seasoned international with 100 Tests, will be worried about that area of their game."

Jones also confirmed that all 32 players in the squad are available for the weekend, saying: "Everyone is fit and ready to go. We've even got fitter journalists here."

Let's block ads! (Why?)

England preparing for Pocock - Jones