Eddie Jones’s astute changes leave Six Nations rivals playing catch-up | Paul Rees


England have harnessed the power of their squad as they close on the All Blacks record and it may come down to Scotland to halt their grand slam charge

Eddie Jones will soon have a bigger record collection than the late John Peel. If England beat Italy at Twickenham next Sunday, and it is all but a case of when, it would be their 10th consecutive Six Nations victory and would equal the longest winning run in the tournament’s 134-year history.

The Tasmanian has added devil to England since taking over as head coach 14 months ago but the transformation from World Cup laughing stock to a side that are two home wins away from equalling New Zealand’s record of 18 successive Test victories for a tier-one nation is stark. If they make it 19, it would mean the first back-to-back grand slams in the Six Nations era.

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