England coach Eddie Jones happy to silence Australia fans after second Test

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Maro Itoje — Itoje was an inspirational figure for England in the first half of Saturday’s win but he will not play in the remainder of the series

Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground Date: Saturday, 16 July Kick-off: 10:55 BST
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, the BBC Sport website and mobile app.

England head coach Eddie Jones says it was a “great feeling” to silence Australia fans as his side kept the series alive with a 25-17 win in the second Test.

Owen Farrell kicked 20 points as the visitors recovered from their opening Test defeat to draw level in the three-match series in Brisbane.

Jones said the Aussie fans are a “little bit more quiet” after the loss.

He also confirmed that lock Maro Itoje has been ruled out of the decider.

“I love coaching at Suncorp Stadium, it’s a good experience,” said Jones, who coached Australia from 2001 to 2005.

“You have got 48,000 people all full of drink and all they want to see is their team win. When you turn them away, it’s a great experience. A great feeling.

“I was coming out from the coaches’ box and they all have their scarves on. When did Australians start wearing scarves? It’s all the rage isn’t it? They are not so smart now.

“Before the game they are coming up saying to me you are going to get belted tonight. Now they are a little bit more quiet. So that’s good. I enjoy that.”

Jones arrived in Brisbane under scrutiny after the 30-28 defeat in the first Test was his side’s fourth in a row.

But the 62-year-old, who became England coach in 2015, says he likes the speculation surrounding his future.

“I like it. I think it is fantastic. I love my mother ringing me up in the morning saying ‘are you going to get sacked? When do you have to move? Are you going to come back to Australia? Come back and live in Randwick’,” Jones said.

“I love that. My poor mother. But I don’t mind it because I have made the choice to take the job and that’s always going to happen because there’s infatuation with sacking coaches now isn’t there?”

The only negative for England was the loss of the influential Itoje, who needed medical attention following a collision with Hunter Paisami shortly before half-time.

He left the field for a head injury assessment and did not return.

“The medical situation with Maro is that he will be out next weekend,” added Jones.

However, the England boss did have better news on flanker Sam Underhill, who could still feature in Sydney after also suffering a head injury.

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