ne. Eighty three years later, Jones wants En

Green Bay, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - The Green Bay Packers will be without one of their top playmakers for at least the next eight games after the team placed wide receiver Randall Cobb on injured reserve with a designation to return on Tuesday. Cobb reportedly broke his right fibula when taking a helmet to his leg from Baltimore safety Matt Elam while making a catch near the end of the first half of Sundays 19-17 win over the Ravens. As an IR/designated to return player, the third-year standout will not be eligible to play until the Packers Week 15 matchup at Dallas on Dec. 15. The injury could be a significant blow to Green Bay, which improved to 3-2 with Sundays defeat of the Ravens. Cobb was leading the team with 29 receptions while compiling 378 yards and two touchdowns through the first five games, and also serves as the Packers primary punt returner. Additionally, fellow wideout James Jones status for this weeks clash against Cleveland is uncertain after he hurt his left knee in the Baltimore game. Cobb put together a breakthrough sophomore campaign in 2012, amassing a team- best 80 catches totaling 954 yards and eight touchdowns. The 23-year-old also ranked among the league leaders with a 25.4 average on kick returns and took back a punt for a score during the year. Undrafted rookie wide receiver Myles White was promoted from the practice squad to fill Cobbs roster spot. Green Bay also signed tight end Jake Stoneburner from the practice squad while placing reserve offensive lineman Greg Van Roten (foot) on IR. What is it about England summer tours to the other side of the equator? They start off in hope, with a smattering of trepidation, and end up, for the most part, in embarrassing failure. Since that night of nights in Sydney in 2003 when England reached their pinnacle, no fewer than 17 Test matches have been contested away to the big three.In all that time, amid all that endeavour and pain, the chaps with the red roses on their jerseys have managed to come up with just one win and a draw. Martin Johnsons tourists squeaked past Australia in Sydney in 2010, beating the Wallabies 21-20. Two year later, Stuart Lancasters men drew 14-14 in Port Elizabeth against South Africa. Australia will miss prop Sekope Kepu, who is playing in France for Bordeaux-Begles The same old excuses get wheeled out every time. England are knackered after a long, hard season. Too many of their first-choice players have been knocking seven bells out of each other in big domestic finals. Theyve flown through eleven time zones and havent had enough time to prepare.This year, however, I truly believe things will be different.For a start, the Aussies are almost certainly going to be missing a number of their big stars from the World Cup. Michael Chekika has said hes unlikely to pick players who are based in France. That means the following ought to be unavailable: Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell, Will Genia and the prop Sekope Kepu, who was instrumental in helping to turn the Australian scrum into such a potent force last autumn. Eddie Jonees discusses the abrasive Michael Cheika Meanwhile, back in Oz, World Cup openside Michael Hooper has been ranked as only the fifth best No 7 in the country by former national coach Bob Dwyer.dddddddddddd Furthermore, apart from the Melbourne Rebels, the other Aussie franchises are not exactly dazzling anyone at the moment in Super Rugby.England, on the other hand, are in a very good place. They are champions of the northern hemisphere and had three sides in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup. Sarries could yet win the thing. Talking of Saracens, England also possess arguably the best second row in the northern hemisphere in Maro Itoje and George Kruis. Their No 8 Billy Vunipola just missed out on being chosen as the Six Nations player of the tournament. Manu Tuilagi is getting back to his best Oh yeah, and at Leicester Manu Tuilagi is back to full fitness and scattering opponents about the park like skittles in a Tom and Jerry cartoon.England are also in a good place psychologically thanks to Eddie Jones. He clearly knows the right buttons to press and how make the most of Englands traditional strengths. In all my time of watching training, I have also never seen the guys pushed as hard as they were in February and March.Jones has also spoken about wanting to go back to his native land and emulate the England cricketers on the Ashes tour of 1932/33. That was the notorious Bodyline Series when Douglas Jardine and co. set about battering Don Bradman out of his comfort zone. Eighty three years later, Jones wants England to be ruthless up front, to earn the right to spread the ball and play rugby.You may accuse me of being unduly optimistic, or for having partied too hard with Martin Castrogiovanni in Vegas, but I believe England can be really competitive in the forthcoming three Test series.A lot will depend on the injury count at the business end of the season, and whether or not we get any more acts of gross stupidity to trouble the disciplinarians, but it could be that England are about to add some long overdue victories to that solitary win in 17 attempts since their World Cup triumph. Watch Englands tour to Australia on Sky Sports. Catch the first Test for £6.99 with a NOW TV day pass. Also See: Wallabies could rest players No England sourness for Rowntree Tomane to miss England clash Follow @SkySportsRugby ' ' '