Rugby

Jones likens Danny Care to Alexis Sanchez after stellar performance

Player was involved in three tries in the final 10 minutes after coming off the bench

England’s Danny Care scoring a try against Australia. His arrival off the bench in the final 10 minutes ignited a devastating flurry of tries that sealed a record 30-6 victory. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

Sun Nov 19 2017 - 16:44

Eddie Jones believes England have found their Alexis Sanchez in Danny Care after the Harlequins scrumhalf plotted Australia's downfall at Twickenham on Saturday.

A finely-poised Cook Cup showdown saw the hosts lead only 13-6 until Care’s arrival off the bench in the final 10 minutes ignited a devastating flurry of tries that sealed a record 30-6 victory.

Spotting the space in Australia’s backfield, Care used his boot to set-up touch downs for Jonathan Joseph and Jonny May before crossing himself deep into stoppage-time.

The injection of pace and quick thinking were the catalyst England needed and Jones reflected on his display by drawing a comparison with Arsenal’s Chilean playmaker Sanchez.

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"Danny brought energy, vibrancy and a bit of creativity," Jones told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme. "Ben Youngs did a great job for us, but Danny came on at the right time, saw space behind and executed brilliantly.

“He was like a little Sanchez playing for Arsenal, here there and everywhere looking for opportunities. He was very creative.”

England, who lost Sam Underhill to concussion in the 18th minute, completed a fifth successive victory over Australia and recorded a 21st win in 22 outings under Jones – a win ratio of 95.5 per cent.

Infuriated

Michael Cheika was infuriated by a series of referring decisions that saw two tries disallowed and Michael Hooper and Kurtley Beale enter the sin-bin, but the Wallabies were ultimately well beaten.

“The scoreline probably flattered us a bit and didn’t really show a true picture of the game,” Care said.“Australia are a tough team to play against. They’re always like that and you’ve got to play very well to beat them.

“Sometimes you get the rub of the green, decisions go your way and the bounce of a ball maybe misses the white line by a tiny bit.

“We know we’ll have to start very well against Samoa because they’ll come out firing against us. I’ve played them a few times. It will be physical and fast and we need to make a good start and crack on from there.”

England: Watson, May, Joseph, Farrell, Daly, Ford, Youngs, Vunipola, Hartley, Cole, Launchbury, Lawes, Robshaw, Underhill, Hughes.

Replacements: Marler for Vunipola (64), George for Hartley (57), Williams for Cole (67), Simmonds for Hughes (63).

Australia: Beale, Koroibete, Kuridrani, Kerevi, Hodge, Foley, Genia, Sio, Polota-Nau, Kepu, Simmons, Enever, Hanigan, Hooper, McMahon.

Replacements: Hunt for Kerevi (67), Phipps for Genia (71), Moore for Polota-Nau (64), Alaalatoa for Kepu (67), Philip for Enever (62), Timani for McMahon (79). Sin Bin: Hooper (32), Beale (40).

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