Brendan Gallagher: Yes, I have to admit it, England do have momentum right now

For many years I hated the word momentum, used in a rugby context, and tied myself in knots avoiding it – but just occasionally nothing else suffices as England’s record breaking unbeaten 2013 proves.
From a nadir of post World Cup shame – not to mention a world ranking of an all-time low of eighth – England have built week on week, match on match, month on month, win on win.
Under their new stroppy, in your face, amusing, eloquent, argumentative, ultra-confident and extremely shrewd coach Eddie Jones England have worked up an unstoppable – for the time being anyway – head of steam which has vented itself in a winning run of gathering authority.
Thirteen wins on the trot in the calendar year and a record-equalling 14 if you also include the dead rubber against minnows Uruguay which drew a discreet veil over their RWC2015 campaign. That takes some doing and there are very few soft fixture in that series. The Six Nations, a three-match series in Australia and an autumn that included matches against three of the four Rugby Championship sides.
England have stayed modest and self-deprecating throughout and skipper Dylan Hartley, below, has been defiantly low key – almost gloomy – in his utterings. Nobody has broken rank and sounded off but their body language has betrayed their change and inner joy. It has changed totally.
The haunted look of just 15 months ago has disappeared but the memory of humiliation and bitter disappointment is close enough to act as a reality check.
England nonetheless have been walking tall and are manifestly happy in their work which breeds an inner confidence and elan.  Which is important, especially when you false start so spectacularly as they did against a pumped up Australia yesterday.  Within minutes Tevita Kuridrani thought he had scored – only to be denied by a sharp eyed call by the TMO – and Sefa Naivalu had touched down for a cracking try as the Wallabies threatened to cut loose. It was downright sloppy by England – “we couldn’t have played any worse” according to Jones – but confident, winning teams usually find a way.
First, however, England had to dig deep defensively. Australia fans might claim they were ‘denied’ another two tries in their opening salvo as they plunged over the line but equally you must concede that England’s last ditch scramble defence – with George Kruis, Chris Robshaw and Jonathan Joseph leading the way – was magnificent. It basically won them the game.
Australia could have been home and hosed by the end of the first quarter but England bought themselves some time and when the momentum is with you sometimes time is all you need is time.
Then – as always happens when the force is with a side – England struck ruthlessly when the opportunity arose.   A couple of much-needed penalties by the ever-reliable Owen Farrell and a breakaway try from Joseph followed as England defied all logic and went into the lead and although Australia did eventually go down the tunnel 16-13 up, a three point deficit was a major result for England.
After the break England were stunning – the best 40 minutes under Eddie Jones unquestionably – and we began to see the full majesty and potential of this side. When Ben Youngs, George Ford and Owen Farrell are buzzing England come at you from all angles and that trio’s sheer rugby playing ability and vision gives the wide men plenty of scope to demonstrate their own skillset.
Youngs epitomises this momentum thing better than most. He has won 65 England caps seemingly in the blink of an eye since making his debut in 2010 but only in this last 12 months or so has he emerged as a truly go-to player.
Nothing can stop him at present, not even some patchy early season form for Tigers as he made a slowish start following his labours this summer. For England he is on a roll, bringing his very best to every Test. Youngs is a glorious player in his pomp and already you wonder how exactly Warren Gatland is going decide between the Leicester man and Conor Murray when it comes to the Lions selection next June.
The other scary and exciting quality of this England squad is the enviable strength in depth which is beginning to match New Zealand. Remember yesterday they were playing without Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury, Billy Vunipola, James Haskell, Elliot Daly, Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell to name just seven front line players.  Not that I can recall any notable discussion or moaning about this, they just crack on.
Nathan Hughes might not be Billy Vunipola but he is a hell of a prospect and after the firestorm of the first 20 minutes yesterday looked to the manor born. Courtney Lawes star might have dimmed last season but the Northampton man, included initially this autumn because of injuries, has been quite superb over the last month.
England are on the verge of something very good indeed.