Eddie Jones makes time for one final Scotland taunt
Eddie Jones has taunted Scotland on the eve of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup showdown by responding to their failure to win at Twickenham since ’83 with the quip – “1883?”
A third Six Nations crown of the Jones era is the prize at stake when England seek a victory that, combined with Welsh failure to complete the Grand Slam against Ireland, would propel them to the summit of the northern hemisphere.
Injury-ravaged Scotland are 14-1 underdogs as a disappointing tournament limps to a close at a venue where they have not won since 1983 – a sorry run spanning 17 Tests – and it is that statistic that Jones seized upon to mock Gregor Townsend’s side.
“Since 1883!? 1983, OK. If we impose our game on Scotland it’ll be pretty tough for them,” England’s head coach said.
“We’re not playing Mars or Pluto, we’re playing Scotland. They’ve got passion and play the game a certain way.
“We’ve got passion about playing for England. It’ll be about which side comes out with most intensity and desire and that’ll be us.
“There’s a great deal of urgency about what we want to do, how we want to play, the point we want to prove.
“We want to be the best team in the world and we know we’re not the best team in the world, but we’ve got an opportunity to show that we’re the best team in the Six Nations. And we’re not going to miss that opportunity.
“We’re nowhere near our best, we’re just slowly getting there. We’ll be at our best for the Six Nations on Saturday. There will be a bit of an explosion.
“We’ve had a great week this week and we are absolutely excited by the prospect of finishing well.”
For all the misery inflicted upon Scotland at Twickenham, they enter the 137th instalment of the oldest rivalry in international rugby in possession of the Calcutta Cup after prevailing 25-13 at Murrayfield a year ago.
That defeat began England’s five-Test losing run that placed Jones’ future in doubt, but since then two key coaches have been added to the staff – New Zealander John Mitchell and Australian Scott Wisemantel.
It is Wisemantel’s first Six Nations and the attack coach joked that he is aware of the historical significance of the cross-boarder clash having seen ‘Braveheart’, Mel Gibson’s film based on William Wallace who fought against England in the First War of Scottish Independence.
“I’ve watched Braveheart a few times! I read up on the history of the Calcutta Cup and it’s quite interesting,” Wisemantel said.
“It’s just such a long time it’s been going. It’s more than a rugby game, sometimes. There are historical links for the supporters.
“I’ve never experienced the Six Nations in a coaching capacity, I’ve always been a spectator and it’s special. It’s a great tournament, it really is. It’s brilliant,” the Australian said.
“While you’re in it, you just do your job and do it as well as you can. Afterwards you think about it and you go ‘wow, that’s pretty special’.”
Ben Youngs will become England’s most capped scrum-half on Saturday with 85 appearances, making his debut against at Murrayfield nine years ago.
“Whenever you play Scotland, (the niggle) is as much bred in us as it is bred in them. It’s a huge fixture because there’s a huge amount of history,” Youngs said.
“There is no denying we want to be unbelievably physical and we want to be ruthless in how we go about the performance.
“If guys want to draw on what’s happened before, that is fine. It’s whatever individually gets you right.
“We want the best performance of the tournament so far. How you get that individually it is up to you.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Hopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
1 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
75 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
75 Go to commentsYep, lost in translation. There are arrogant people in Ireland, yes. As there are arrogant people in every country, but as a nation, arrogance is not a general characteristic in Ireland. There has not really had a strong representation for any global sport over the years, and hence arrogance is not endemic to Irish people in this regard. I seriously doubt that was said or meant by 12 or 13 players. If it was said, it would have been said in jest and to pay Etzebeth and the Springboks a compliment for how hard fought the game was.
75 Go to commentsOne of the few Bidwell articles I can agree with. If coaches played their players through niggles and consistently played them 80mins then you could make an argument for resting protocols - they obviously don’t and are incredibly responsible, let’s give up the resting nonsense and let the boys play.
4 Go to commentsDaniel Gallan, please for the love of all that is holy, stop writing about rugby. Or at the very least stop telling people you are South African.
21 Go to commentsThis Dr.Rassie 6-2 filth is spreading. We need to ask World Rugby to ban something
1 Go to commentsPity he couldn’t call him a liar to his face, such a brave man.
75 Go to comments“You ain’t counting to 12 or 13 straight after a game, son!” Just because you don’t doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t “I reckon if anyone said it they would have said, ‘Hopefully, see you in the final’.” Oh, you “reckon”, do you? You weren’t there, you weren’t part of the conversation but you know what was said… Id10T
75 Go to commentsNZ has such a rich history of quality number nines, and woman beaters.
1 Go to commentsThat’s what happens when you are scared of scrums
3 Go to comments