England close in on producing group of top stars

Jones is preparing his team for a test of “manhood” against Argentina at Twickenham tomorrow in the penultimate international of an autumn that could conclude with a record-equalling 14th successive Test victory.

World player of the year nominees Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola and fly-half George Ford – each of whom start against the Pumas – are three England stars pushing hard for inclusion in a global XV.

“If you look at the record of English rugby since 2003, there’s only been one world-class player produced and that’s Jonny Wilkinson,” said Jones.

“But some of our guys are moving towards that world-class area. I don’t think you get a stamp on your head to say you’re world-class now and you’ve got that for life.

“We’ve got guys now who are starting to perform 8/10 every game and when you do that then you become world-class.

“Now we have a number of players who want to be part of a great team and want to be great players.

“They’re growing in assertiveness and in their desire to be better, which I think is fantastic.

“Before, there hasn’t been the desire from the players to push themselves and be great. To do that you have to work that little bit smarter and work that little bit harder.”

Argentina play their final match of the season at Twickenham and despite finishing bottom of this year’s Rugby Championship, Jones believes they will still offer a mighty test of English resolve.

“The first thing about playing against Argentina is that it’s a test of your manhood,” Jones said.

“They are physical guys. When you go to Argentina, you have a big steak, don’t you?

“It’s all about being physical. That’s our first test. We’ve got no issue with that, we know that’s coming.”

Jones believes Argentina’s Rugby Championship position fails to reflect their true quality, in the process aiming a barb at England’s December 3 opponents Australia who finished runners-up in the competition.

“They were probably the second best team in the Rugby Championship,” added Jones.

“We are playing a very good side that we know if they scent any sense of complacency in us, they’ll be all over us like a rash.

“They’ve played some fantastic rugby and any team that stretches the All Blacks for 50 minutes is a really good team. They did that in the summer with some wonderful rugby.

“In terms of results, they dropped off towards the end of the Championship and they probably had some fatigue.

“But fatigue tends to go out the window when you know you’re going back to a six-week holiday because this is their last game of the year.

“I can’t see fatigue being a problem for them. They out All-Blacked the All Blacks and to do that you have to be pretty good.”

England have named George Kruis and Tom Wood in their pack to face Argentina.

Kruis is restored to the second row after completing his recovery from ankle surgery and replaces Joe Launchbury, who is serving a two-match ban for kicking an opponent in last weekend’s 58-15 victory over Fiji.

Wood ousts Teimana Harrison at openside flanker, a role he performed in the series opener against South Africa with his Northampton team-mate dropping to the bench in place of Nathan Hughes.

In total there are four changes to the starting XV that routed Fiji, with Mike Brown preferred to Alex Goode at full-back and Jonny May displacing Semesa Rokoduguni on the right wing.

“Selection was interesting this week, but it shows how competitive and how much depth we are developing,” explained Jones. “Kruis underwent surgery to correct a chronic ankle problem in mid-October and has made the quickest possible return, missing only the matches against South Africa and Fiji.

His comeback is well-timed given Launchbury’s two-week ban and he packs down alongside Courtney Lawes and will resume with line-out calling duties.

It is the greater stopping power in defence that has sealed Wood’s return because while Harrison’s work-rate was high against Fiji, he was over-powered at times.

“George has worked really hard after his injury,” added Jones. “He has been a fine player for us and with Joe Launchbury’s unfortunate but justified suspension, it’s a great opportunity for George to find his feet again. Tom is a lively, committed player and that is what we are going to need.”

England (v Argentina): M Brown (Harlequins); J May (Gloucester), J Joseph (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), E Daly (Wasps); G Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester); M Vunipola (Saracens), D Hartley (Northampton, capt), D Cole (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), G Kruis (Saracens), C Robshaw (Harlequins), T Wood (Northampton), B Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: J George (Saracens), J Marler (Harlequins), K Sinckler (Harlequins), C Ewels (Bath), T Harrison (Northampton), D Care (Harlequins), B Te’o (Worcester), H Slade (Exeter).