England's recent record over Australia counts for nothing, insists Owen Farrell

Owen Farrell believes England’s strong recent record against Australia, who have had an even tougher year than Eddie Jones’s team, will mean nothing when the two sides lock horns at Twickenham on Saturday.

England have won all five of their games under Jones against Australia — two at Twickenham and a 3-0 sweep Down Under in 2016. Australia’s 26-7 victory over Italy in Padua on Saturday was just their fourth in 13 matches.

The introduction of Farrell and other senior players against Japan on Saturday brought greater cohesion — which led to 25 unanswered second-half points — to England’s performance and followed a half-time dressing down from Jones.

Lock Charlie Ewels revealed that the coach questioned his team’s attitude and character, while Farrell said when he walked on to the field he “thought there was going to be a reaction”.

Farrell will start at fly-half again on Saturday and the co-captain says England’s strong recent record against Australia will have no bearing at Twickenham this weekend.

“The results have gone our way recently, but that means nothing going into this weekend,” he said. “We’ve got to prepare as best we can and we have to make sure we perform for 80 minutes. It’s exciting, it’s good.

“I don’t think it’s anything like that [psychological advantage]. We enjoy playing against a top team like them and they’ve been up there for as long as I can remember. They’re a big, big team, so it’s one you look forward to — and I’m sure they’ll be thinking the same.”

Farrell said England were desperate to end the year with a sixth win in 12 Tests but added that defeat would not “make or break” the team on the road to next year’s World Cup.

“Yes, of course you do [want to win],” he said. “But it doesn’t make or break us. We’re building, we’re trying to get better and I’m sure that’ll we do that this week.

“If we concentrate on that, then our performance will look after itself.

“All anyone wants to do here is win but, at the same time, we’ll have an opportunity next time we get together to get better again and build on what we’ve done, and the time after that.”