UK media: England have formula to beat All Blacks

England's Jamie George, left, celebrates with George Ford after he scored a try during their rugby test match against Australia. Photo / AP.

Sir Clive Woodward has led the praise for the England rugby team, describing their whitewash of Australia as "one of the all-time high points".

And he says England have finally adopted a formula to beat the All Blacks by having playmakers - George Ford and Owen Farrell - at first and second five-eighths.

The 2003 World Cup winner heaped praise on coach Eddie Jones, telling Daily Mail readers that "England now have the coach they deserve to drive them on."

Woodward wrote: "Absolutely the biggest change since the miseries of the (2015) World Cup is the clearing of minds over the 10 and 12 position. After years of refusing to grasp the nettle, England have settled again on two playmakers in midfield and the only time they really looked vulnerable in this series against a very talented and well coached Australia team was the first Test when they went with Luther Burrell at 12.

"Let's just set this lesson down in stone in case we ever get distracted again. England will never beat the All Blacks and will never win the World Cup again relying on brute power at inside centre. The game has moved on massively - and forever - in that respect."

Former Welsh forward and captain Eddie Butler, writing for The Guardian, also put Jones at the top of his hit list.

"(the) coach's scene-stealing performances against his old mate and rival Michael Cheika were one of five reasons for the memorable series victory.

Butler took a different tack to Woodward, saying that the Farrell/Ford was "a combination that shouldn't work".

"...that supposed weak point in the defensive front has given very little away. It is equally true that they have hardly honed a cutting edge in attack, but this was never going to be a campaign (about) England's running and passing."

And Butler had no comforting words for beaten Aussie coach Michael Cheika.

"(Jones') rival and old mate from Randwick Michael Cheika opted for what he hoped would be dignified silence, but now stands accused of being bullied in the battle of the briefings," Butler said.

The Telegraph's Steve James said England's victory showed "depth of character" and "revealed some delicious possibilities"

"England wanted to leave Australia dressed in the clothes of winners, not entertainers. The wider game can come in time," he wrote.

"I said beforehand that to win one Test would be considered an achievement. I truly believed that. What has transpired has been utterly astonishing."

The Times enthusiastically claimed the 3 - 0 series victory was "an outcome which banishes the ghosts of the World Cup campaign".