England stuck in identity crisis and slipping backwards under Eddie Jones

Bouncing back from a disappointing first Test defeat in Australia can occasionally be done. England last managed it in 2010 when, as now, they lost disappointingly in Perth to leave their head coach Martin Johnson in need of urgent salvation. He responded by relegating his old World Cup winning team-mate, Jonny Wilkinson, to the bench. England sneaked home 21-20 in Sydney a week later, assisted by a simple missed penalty from Matt Giteau late on.

It allowed Johnson some temporary respite but, in retrospect, papered over fissures that were to widen at the subsequent 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Which prompts an uncomfortable question. Would England ultimately benefit more in the longer term from losing this Saturday’s second Test – and with it the series – than from a face-saving win that masks fundamental wider issues?

A 3-0 series whitewash is probably the only outcome that might jolt the Rugby Football Union out of its ongoing complacency. Steady progress? One of the fittest squads in the world? If so, how come England are finding it increasingly hard to close out games? Back in February they fell away against Scotland at Murrayfield and have now done likewise against two sides – the Barbarians and the Wallabies – who played more than half the game with 14 men.

Why are England still conceding unnecessary penalties and cards when the pressure cranks up? How come opponents manage to raise the tactical tempo, while England struggle to find a second wind or really go at opponents until it is mostly too late? Heartening as it was to watch the gifted Henry Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet collect their well-taken debut tries the fact is that, with one minute of normal time left, England were 30-14 down against a far