Eddie Jones and England to turn to Portuguese beer to help air out troubles
Eddie Jones plans to use the salary cap scandal that has engulfed Saracens as a galvanising force for England’s Guinness Six Nations campaign – with the help of some Portuguese beer.
The double winners have been relegated for exceeding the £7million ceiling for player wages for 2019-20, having already been given a 35-point deduction and fined £5.36million for being guilty of the same offence in the previous three seasons.
It has thrown the club futures of England’s seven-strong Saracens contingent into doubt given 12 months in the Championship looms.
Jones will oversee crisis talks when the squad arrives in the Algarve for their pre-Six Nations training camp on Thursday to address any resentment among players from rival clubs, but is confident divisions will be avoided.
“Portuguese beer will help. It will be a matter of just getting the issues on the table, having a good chat and then just spending time with each other. Time is a big thing,” Jones said.
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“You build better relationships when you have got time. We have got a short amount of time before we start our Test match preparation and the key is going to be using that time really wisely.
“This is a massive opportunity. For the players, coming to England is the best thing for them. What do they love doing? Playing rugby.
“Who do they love playing for? Their club, well they’re not playing for their club, they’re playing for their country, who they love playing for.
“It’s the best thing for them. And then for the rest of the team it is an opportunity to get tighter.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7om7AdgPcI/
At the centre of the discussions on Thursday will be Owen Farrell, England’s respected captain and the Saracens playmaker.
Farrell is uncertain what atmosphere to expect from other players when the World Cup runners-up gather to begin preparations for the Six Nations, which opens against France on February 2.
“We don’t know yet, we have not met up as a team. We will see in the next few days,” said Farrell, who was speaking for the first time Saracens’ relegation was announced.
“We will be honest and up front about it and we will come through it and get on with what’s in front of us.
“I don’t think it will be difficult for me at all. We’re excited to get into camp and get on with the rugby.”
This will be absolutely fascinating. https://t.co/uei3jdKyEN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 22, 2020
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell discussed the situation with his son Owen at Wednesday’s Six Nations launch.
“I’ve just had a protein bowl with Owen and a coffee,” Farrell said.
“As far as players are concerned, they have a lot of ups and downs to deal with every week.
“You always get judged on your performance. This is something that players need to deal with.
“When you make the change into another environment, I think that’s going to be really refreshing. I see Eddie using it to galvanise England a little bit as well.”
– AssociatedPress
Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall has confirmed that the current Saracens squad will be broken up:
Comments on RugbyPass
Shows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
4 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
4 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
4 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
2 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to comments