Eddie Jones says Courtney Lawes’ ‘laconic style’ was key to England win

If several questions remain over England’s progress towards the World Cup next year after a series victory against Australia, that over the future of Eddie Jones has been unequivocally answered.

To put it another way, Jones can finally look forward to visiting his elderly mother who, alarmed at speculation over whether he would be sacked, had warned him earlier in the tour to not come home until victory had been secured. “She’ll be very happy,” Jones said after the series had been wrapped up in Sydney. “I might get a nice sukiyaki from her.”

Certainly a second series win in Australia gives Jones significant breathing space and there are considerable doubts as to whether his employer would have been willing to wield the axe even in the event of three defeats. There are undoubtedly more signs of tangible progress than when the Rugby Football Union made such a claim after another dismal Six Nations and there are platforms upon which Jones can build towards the autumn which, as is becoming a recurring theme, he has already billed as a “mini-World Cup”.

Chief among the positives is that there is clearly a togetherness about this squad. Courtney Lawes is an immensely popular leader and if there was a degree of friction when Owen Farrell was stripped of the captaincy they have evidently developed a prosperous working relationship. “With Courtney’s more laconic style, they have created a great fit at the top,” Jones said.

Ellis Genge has developed into an integral part of this team, someone who sets the tone for the side, while Richard Cockerill – who has seemed back to his usual animated self in Australia – has forged a formidable pack with a maul that can now be viewed as a serious weapon. The improvements at the breakdown –