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LONDON – England head coach Eddie Jones said the players have to “kick on” after the 12-11 victory over South Africa in the first Test against the Springboks.
Victory in the second Test in Port Elizabeth next week would seal the two-match series.
“We talked about set pieces and penalties and they killed the game for us,” said Jones.
“We got ourselves in front on a couple of occasions and were outplayed in the key areas of the game.
“We’ll carry on after being outplayed for two thirds of the game and it’ll be a different story next week.
“The players have got to kick on and play better. You go through stages in your life when you’re going to play really well and playing ordinary and they just go through phases.”
England will also see next week’s result as crucial in their preparations for the defence of the World Cup in Japan later this year.
“The England team has to win in all sorts of ways and you go through phases when you’re doing that,” said Jones.
“They’ve got to keep fighting like they did.”