Jones reunites World Cup back row, preps for toughest game of year

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VIDEO SHOWS: NEWS CONFERENCE WITH ENGLAND HEAD COACH EDDIE JONES / B-ROLL OF ENGLAND TRAINING

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 18, 2020) (POOL - ACCESS ALL)

1. ENGLAND FORWARDS TRAINING

2. ENGLAND BACK GEORGE FORD

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 19, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND HEAD COACH, EDDIE JONES, SAYING:

"Well Ireland were very happy with their dominant performance against Wales. And we know that they are a very well coached team, I know Andy Farrell very well. They will be well prepared and they will come to Twickenham with a point to prove. Which always makes them dangerous. It is the most important game of the year for us, and I am sure for them they are treating it exactly the same way. So it is a huge set up from what we have encountered in the last couple of games."

REPORTER ASKING WHY IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME OF THE YEAR

JONES SAYING: "Because it is the next game."

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 18, 2020) (POOL - ACCESS ALL)

4. ENGLAND SKIPPER OWEN FARRELL

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 19, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND HEAD COACH, EDDIE JONES, SAYING:

"Well the Ireland and English games are always big, it is like when we go to Lansdowne Road or whatever the commercial name is now. It is a huge game. It is a traditional rival game. And it is a game that we both want to win dearly. They are always tough engrossing hard fought encounters and Saturday is going to be exactly the same."

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 18, 2020) (POOL - ACCESS ALL)

6. ENGLAND SCRUM HALF BEN YOUNGS

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 19, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND HEAD COACH, EDDIE JONES, SAYING ON THE FORMAT:

"Yeah look, I think it is fantastic mate. As I have said before, we are so grateful for the opportunity to play I think it is a different format. Every game counts because it puts you in a situation where you are playing in the last weekend, in the main game or the U10s kick off time. So you want to be in the main game. And that is where we are aiming to be. And we are enjoying the format greatly."

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 18, 2020) (POOL - ACCESS ALL)

8. ENGLAND FORWARDS TRAINING ON TACKLE BAGS

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 19, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND HEAD COACH, EDDIE JONES, SAYING ON BACK ROW:

"We feel that is our strongest back row for this game. Playing against Ireland who are the strongest poaching team in the world, who are in the number one poaching team in Europe. We need an aggressive low to the ground back row and Sam Underhill and Tom Curry outstanding in that area."

LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 18, 2020) (POOL - ACCESS ALL)

10. ENGLAND FORWARDS SPRINTING

11. ENGLAND FORWARDS DOING FLOOR DRILLS

STORY: England coach Eddie Jones has reverted to his World Cup back row of Tom Curry, Sam Underhill and Billy Vunipola to face Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday, a

game he described as England's most important of the year so far.

The powerful trio are reunited for the second time since the World Cup final for the hardest match England have faced since the restart after easy wins over Italy and Georgia.

Speaking to reporters at a media conference on Thursday (November 19), Jones said he expected Saturday's showdown to be an 'engrossing encounter'.

England top their Autumn Cup group after last week's win, on goal difference from Ireland, who easily defeated Wales in their opener.

(Production: Iain Axon)