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LIFE'S A BEACH

Rugby League ace Andrew Johns helps England’s union stars Owen Farrell and George Ford

Then boss Eddie Jones turns to a 'shore thing' in recovery session as he takes the lads for a game of beach volleyball

EDDIE JONES recruited rugby league legend Andrew Johns to help out at England training today.
The former Kangaroos star was working with fly-halves Owen Farrell and George Ford at the Coogee Oval - where Jones' old club Randwick play.
Andrew Johns, (C) the former rugby league international talks to Ben Youngs, Eddie Jones and Danny Care
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Andrew Johns gives pep talk to Ben Youngs, Eddie Jones and Danny CareCredit: Getty Images
England stretch during the England training session held at Coogee Oval
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Stretching out...England are put through their paces in trainingCredit: Getty Images

It was an intriguing move from Jones who just two weeks ago claimed league was 'not skilful - it's a game where you’ve go to hurt people'.

But this time he changed his tune as he managed to get Aussie hero Johns in to coach - and didn't rule out doing it again in the future.

"He has got a lot of knowledge, a lot he can teach people and we have been chatting for a while about the possibility of him coming in and doing a little bit of work.

"Today was the ideal day when we had quite a downtime in training.

"It is just slight detail, things that he is saying in a different voice and in a different way that stimulates learning.

"We have got two outstanding young No 10s in Owen Farrell and George Ford and we want them to keep learning.

"Those guys, like Andrew Johns, they touch the ball or did touch the ball 50 or 60 times in a game. They had to fix defenders, know when to drift, know when to be straight, know when to take a line, how you use your eyes, where you position your hands.

"For those guys to have that lesson this afternoon is invaluable. They will remember it for the rest of their lives.

"They will have learned things. Now you learn things and it doesn't always mean you pass the test. But they will definitely learn things."
Matt Mullan (L) and Mike Brown contest the ball during the England recovery
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Matt Mullan and Mike Brown contest the ball during the England recovery sessionCredit: Getty Images
Mike Brown, the England fullback heads a swiss ball during the England recovery session
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Bigger and better? Full-back Mike Brown heads a Swiss ball during the workoutCredit: Getty Images
Maro Itoje smashes the ball during a game of beach volleyball
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Take that...Maro Itoje smashes the ball during the volleyball gameCredit: Getty Images

James Haskell missed out on training with his left foot still in a protective boot.

Jack Nowell, who had light concussion, passed his return to play protocols and was allowed to take part at the end of the season.

Jones added: "I just spoke to the players this afternoon and in terms of selection we always pick our best 23.

"It is the third Test of the series so we are going to need energetic, physically aggressive players so the 23 who show they want to play like that are the 23 who are going to play.

"There hasn't been any reason why we would think of standing down players so no players have got the reason to say that. They are all keen to play, if they weren't keen to play they wouldn't be here.

"The only thing is we want to play our best 80 minutes this weekend. Attack-wise we were reasonable in the first Test, defensively we were poor. Set piece we were good at the line out and average in the scrum in the first Test.
Owen Farrell, the England standoff, heads the ball during the England recovery session held
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Heads you win...stand-off Owen Farrell shows just how versatile he can be

Billy Vunipola cools off in the ocean during the England recovery session
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Take a break, mate...Billy Vunipola is happy to cool off in the oceanCredit: Getty Images
Jamie George heads the ball during the England recovery sessionat Coogee Beach
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Head tennis...Jamie George joins in the action during the trip to Coogee BeachCredit: Getty Images

 

"In the second Test, our scrum was good, our line-out was average, our defence was outstanding and our attack was almost non-existent.

"So we would like to put together our best 80 because we still haven't seen the best of this team and we are on a learning curve and we want to keep improving."
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