Tokyo (AFP)

Although beaten in the final Saturday by South Africa (32-12), England has during the World Cup set the stage for the future, which looks likely bright for his young group, always taken by Eddie Jones at least for the next two years.

"Sorry guys, but you're going to have to support me for two more years!" launched the Australian technician to English journalists in the mixed zone of Yokohama stadium, in a slightly tense exchange.

"Three weeks ago, I was going to be fired, there was going to be blood on the walls of Twickenham," said Jones, referring to the climate before the quarter-final against Australia (40). -16).

"I'm disappointed with such negativity around our performance" in the final, added the Australian, also disappointed, with the players, "not to be at the checkout today, but we still have another chance ".

The next will take place in 2023 in France. With him at the controls? The English press evoked, after the recital in the semifinals against New Zealand (19-7), the possibility that it extend its contract, which runs until 2021, until the next edition.

"The decision does not belong to me" he replied on Saturday. He still has at least two years to build his work started on the ashes of World Cup-2015, where the XV of the Rose had been eliminated, home, for the first time in its history in the group stage.

- "Much learned" -

The English had partly used this failure to reach the final in Japan.

Sam Underhill has called for recidivism, after a final where the team may have failed in mental approach a week after delivering a capital performance against the All Blacks. She has not been able to confirm it, even though the Springboks are made of another wood, much thicker, than the New Zealanders of 2019.

"I've learned a lot, I like to think that I'm a better player than I was four months ago, there's so much to learn (from that final defeat), I'll probably ask myself, think about it, and make sure I do not forget half of it, "explained the third line.

Underhill (23) and his teammates, starting with Tom Curry (21), with whom he forms the binomial "Kamikaze kids", are a priori left for a long lease in white.

- "This team will dominate" -

If midfielder Ben Youngs (30), second-row Courtney Lawes (30) or winger Jonny May (29) could be too old in 2023, this should not be the case, provided he is spared from injuries and keep a high level of performance, from all other executives in Japan.

From right-hander Kyle Sinckler (23) to captain Owen Farrell (28) to N.8 Billy Vunipola (27), second line Maro Itoje (25), Manu Tuilagi (28), opener George Ford (26) or back-wingers Elliot Daly (27) and Anthony Watson (25).

And behind, it grows with the substitutes of Japan (Cokanasiga, Nowell, Genge, Singleton, Ludlam), or new nuggets like the opener Marcus Smith (20 years).

Even if the wounds, sports choices or forms will inevitably change the composition in the coming years, the XV of the Rose can count on a solid frame, quite young and which will necessarily gain experience.

"This team will dominate for a long time if it continues to progress, and the young have a bright future," said left-wing pillar Joe Marler.

"We have to make sure that we keep going, particularly when we meet," warned Farrell. And this in January, before the first match of the Six Nations Tournament: a "Crunch" boiling against the XV of France February 2 in Saint-Denis.

© 2019 AFP