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Eddie Jones says he’s accepts and even enjoys the pressure amid critics’ suggestions his role as England rugby coach could hinge on the outcome of the Test series against the Wallabies.
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England arrived in Perth ahead of Saturday’s first Test after losses to Ireland, France and most recently a shock 52-21 defeat by the Barbarians following mixed results since reaching the 2019 World Cup final.
Former Wallabies coach Jones’s record against his former team stands at 8-0 but ex-England international turned commentator Andy Goode recently said if the visitors suffered a series whitewash Jones shouldn’t bother returning to England.
While admitting he was under pressure with the 2023 World Cup looming, Jones said he wasn’t alone.
He said that New Zealand coach Ian Foster would be feeling similar after a dip in the All Blacks‘ results late last year.
“I think every international coach is under pressure,” Jones said on Thursday in Perth.
“I’m under pressure because we haven’t had results good enough, that’s obvious.
“Our expectations are high, the media’s expectations are high, everyone’s expectations high and that’s OK.
“Dave (Wallabies coach Dave Rennie) is under pressure, across the ditch they’re (Ian Foster) under pressure … that’s part of the job that we like and enjoy and accept the responsibilities of that pressure.”
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During England’s last series in Australia, a clean sweep in 2016, Jones enjoyed verbal sparring with then Wallabies coach Michael Cheika but Rennie has remained silent from his Queensland base.
Jones couldn’t help having a dig at the Australian selection, with 12 Brumbies in the match-day squad as they look to emulate their forward-based Super Rugby style and Quade Cooper named at playmaker.
He questioned whether it would gel.
“You don’t bring back Quade unless you’re going to play,” Jones said.
“It’s an interesting little conundrum for them because they’ve got a basically a Brumbies side that’s based around Nic White, and they bring in Quade who wants the ball.
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“How do they get that balance right between nine and 10? I’m sure they’ll get it right.”
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