England v Australia - The big test for Eddie Jones

England coach Eddie Jones. Photo / Getty

England's rugby record in Australia is blotchy yet three wins in 17 tests is some of the oxygen fuelling their retribution tour.

Another is the painful pool play defeat at the last World Cup and the fallout from that tournament. Since then the curve has gone uphill.

Not spectacularly but the improvement has dovetailed the results with England winning all their Six Nations tests under new coach Eddie Jones and then seeing off Wales as an entrée to their tour downunder.

This three test series will be a serious inquiry into England's progress and one Jones is urging his team to embrace.

"Christopher Columbus didn't discover America by swimming in his own back yard. He had to get in a boat and leave and not see anything. That's exactly what we have to do," he said.

"We are in a position where we have to do something no other side has done and to do that we have to do things differently."

England chose to base themselves on the Gold Coast for their training sessions and will relocate to Brisbane later in the week for Saturday's opening test at Suncorp Stadium.

"We have to win the first one - that's what the series is about, the first Test," Jones said.

The opening test would set the tone for the tour and give the victor confidence they could push on and take out the series. New Zealand-born former league player Ben Te'o, was the only player not involved in training but remains a strong candidate to start in midfield.

Jones found time to nominate the side he expects his Wallaby opposite Michael Cheika will pick for the start of the three tests series.

He thought Israel Folau would stay at fullback, Christian Leali'ifano would be in midfield, either Dane Haylett-Petty or Taquele Naiyaravero on the left wing with James Horwill and Sekope Kepu hurried back to bulk up the pack.

Cheika has avoided reacting to any of Jones' taunts and instead offered some gracious comments about England. They were a good team at the World Cup but did not the slices of luck needed to garnish their work in matches where the margins were minimal.

"They're doing very well now. They are Grand Slam champions and the best team in Europe, coming down to the Southern Hemisphere with eyes on being No 1 in the world," Cheika said. "I think that is logical."