England maturing into contenders - Andrew

Rob Andrew directory of The RFU's elite rugby believes that England are progressing very well and they seems to be a very strong contenders for the World Cup.

England started year 2010 with a very bad note facing several defeats against Italy and Scotland in the Six Nations leading to huge criticism of the team as they finished the tournament with just two victories.

Though they started to show some progress when they won against Australia culminated in a 21-20 victory in Sydney in the second test.The team then carry on their winning stream with a thrilling win over the Wallabies at Twickenham and also beat Samoa in the autumn internationals.

"The players are learning that there is no room for any drop in any aspect of your performance," Andrew said. "Matin talks about this a lot: you have to be an international player every day, not just a couple of days before you play New Zealand, and that's a mindset that's coming back into the England squad."

"That's what we've worked so hard on for the last four years and that's coming to fruition now," Andrew said. "The under 18s have lost one game in three years, the under 20s have been to two World Cup finals - we haven't won it yet but that's the next step, we've got a very good side this year - the Saxons have been very successful over time and you can see those players coming into the seniors. That pathway's very good."

Johnson assert Jones is at Lock

Johnson at club level in the second row, has launched a robust defence of Ryan Jones and revealed that Welsh autumn international's future. In the back row Jones has performance for significant criticism for previous 12 months and was stripped on the Welsh captaincy by Warren Gatland during the autumn internationals. When Johnson assert Jones remains a force in the game and believes he will be even more influential at lock.

Johnson told to the Western Mail, "Ryan hasn't lost it (dynamism). Wales play slightly differently and get him to do different things. He has enormous numbers when you look at his stats at the end of a game. His work-rate's absolutely phenomenal. He knows the short cuts. But where I like it is he gives you an added advantage at lock of being a footie player with a work ethic. It gives us a competitive edge."

At lock Jones's play again on Saturday when Ospreys take on Munster in the Heineken Cup. And Johnson admits the changes in the rendering the breakdown.

Johnson retained different rule rendering the breakdown. He said, comparing Jones with former England captain Martin Corry "The game has moved on. He is a little Martin Corryish. I saw a young Ryan playing lock. We changed him to blindside flanker and No 8 with Wales. Sometimes, in a player's career, he can go a bit of a circle. The game changes, legislation changes, there's more mobility needed, the ball is in play a bit longer. What Ryan gives you is a tremendous work-rate, an incredible work-rate. He also has great skills of a back rower. The way the game is moving, if you add the two together you get an asset as a No 4 who provides footie skills and work-rate. I really like that combination. I like what he brings to us."

Spotlight on the autumn internationals

There are few important points on which we should keep in our minds are:

1. England are comfortable and confident in their attacking game, spearheaded by the decision to encourage Chris Ashton to come off his wing at will.

2. South Africa still possess the armoury to retain the World Cup and once their key frontline players return from injury will be a force in New Zealand.

3. Ireland, with serious concerns about the quality of their front five, face a tough Six Nations championship as their 2009 Grand Slam team begin to fade.

4. Scotland can look forward to the Six Nations after wins over South Africa and Samoa, Wales in contrast, appear to be in a state of confusion.

5. The team that is going to win the World Cup next year is going to have to find some way to beat hosts New Zealand.

Team of the series
15. Kurtley Beale (Australia)
14. James O’Connor (Australia)
13. Conrad Smith (New Zealand)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)
11. Hosea Gear (New Zealand)
10. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
9. Ben Youngs (England)
1. Andrew Sheridan (England)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa)
3. Adam Jones (Wales)
4. Bakkies Botha (South Africa)
5. Victor Matfield (South Africa)
6. Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)

Subs: 16, Matthew Rees (Wales), 17, Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa), 18, Kieran Read (New Zealand), 19, Tom Croft (England); 20, Mike Phillips (Wales), 21, Seilala Mapusua (Samoa), 22, Ben Foden (England).

The losers
Wales: They finished their autumn campaign without a win, stretching their alarming run without a Test victory to seven games.

France: Les Bleus have grand designs for a new £500 million stadium in Paris, and it seems they can’t leave the Stade de France quick enough after Saturday’s humiliating 59-16 defeat by Australia.

Springboks pair Chiliboy Ralepelle and Bjorn Basson: Their future remains uncertain after they tested positive for a banned stimulant following the victory over Ireland. They are awaiting results of their B sample.

The Avivia Stadium: The ticketing fiasco and dreadful economic climate in Ireland made for a most disappointing opening of the new stadium in Dublin, with none of the side’s four games sold out.

Jonny Wilkinson: He began the autumn with high hopes of winning back his England fly-half spot but missed the entire campaign with a shoulder injury and Toby Flood took full advantage.

The Winners
Dan Carter: The New Zealand fly-half finished the autumn campaign as the leading point-scorer in Test rugby, overtaking Jonny Wilkinson to set a record of 1,188 points.
Chris Ashton: His display against South Africa may have been hindered by the effects of his collision with Victor Matfield but the Northampton player is now one of the hottest properties in world rugby.

New Zealand: Their 37-25 victory over Wales saw Graham Henry’s side complete their third Grand Slam of the home nations in the last five years.

Andy Robinson: He must have feared the worst after Scotland’s humiliating 49-3 defeat by New Zealand but the former England coach can take great credit for guiding his side to victories over South Africa and Samoa.

George North: Despite the doom and gloom in Wales, it was an autumn that the18-year-old Scarlets wing will never forget, marking his debut with two tries against South Africa.

Try of the weekend

Fiji looked on course for another sensational victory over Wales when outstanding centre Albert Vulivuli powered over for a thrilling try to give his side a second-half lead. Sisa Koyamaibole intercepted a pass by Jonathan Thomas from a line-out and swift hands then put Vulivuli in and his speed and strength took him to the line.