That, after Australia lost veteran fly-half Quade Cooper with a calf strain shortly before kick-off and full-back Tom Banks and prop Allan Alaalatoa also departed with injuries in the first half before Swain was sent off for headbutting Jonny Hill. It’s about focussing and doing what we need to do to get the W.”Įngland’s planned post-match social was cancelled in Perth as they began the debrief of their defeat which was one of the worst of Jones’ stint as head coach after they let a 14-9 lead crumble during the final quarter. “That’s what is required of us as a team, as forwards, me as an individual. We have to narrow our focus, play tough rugby. “In those moments when your back is against the wall the team has to get tighter. “We need to raise the intensity, narrow our focus, focus on what’s important. “Both Lions tours I’ve been on, and on the Aussie tour last time we were here, the intensity went up in game two.
Game two is one of the crucial games,” Itoje said. Every three-Test series I have played in the intensity of game two goes up. It also ended Eddie Jones‘ men’s eight-match winning run against Australia and Itoje believes England’s challenge against the Wallabies will become tougher during the rest of the series. Two late converted tries from Henry Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet gave some respectability to the end result which means England have now lost their last four internationals. Maro Itoje has called on England to increase the intensity when they take on Australia in the second Test of the series, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.ĭespite playing most of the opening match with a one-man advantage – after Wallabies lock Darcy Swain was red carded late in the first half – England suffered a 30-28 defeat in Perth at the weekend.