Eddie Jones has resolved to rip it up and start again despite England reaching the World Cup final, with the head coach already eyeing 2020 Guinness Six Nations glory.
The Australian – who led the Red Rose to Championship titles in 2016 and 2017 – watched on as England lost out 32-12 to South Africa in their bid for a second Webb Ellis Cup on Saturday.
But Jones’ trademark candour was on display when he discussed the future of the team who have now finished runners-up in back-to-back major tournaments this year, after also coming second in the 2019 Guinness Six Nations.
“I tell you what happens to teams – they evolve,” he said.
“Some guys will lose desire, some guys will lose fitness, some guys will get injuries and there’ll be young guys come through.
“So this team is finished now. There will be a new team made. We’ll make a new team for the Six Nations and that new team for the Six Nations will be the basis of going to the next World Cup.”
He took a moment, however, to praise the squad that came so close to glory out in Japan, believing that they deserve to go down in history as one of England’s great teams.
“But I’m so proud of the players, the way they’ve prepared, the way they’ve worked,” Jones added.
“They’re great ambassadors for the sport and great ambassadors for England – I’m disappointed there’s such a negative attitude about our performance.
“We’ve just taken a team that couldn’t get out of the pools [four years ago] and just got beaten in the final and there’s all this negativity about their performance.”