Eddie Jones to oversee 'forensic' inquest into malfunctioning England
Eddie Jones will oversee a forensic inquest into Saturday’s Calcutta Cup surrender to Scotland as England look to revive their Guinness Six Nations title defence against Italy.
Jones has revealed that his front row will be reinforced for the round-two fixture by the return of Kyle Sinckler from suspension and Mako Vunipola from an Achilles injury, but his immediate focus is on uncovering the reasons for a dire opener.
Scotland celebrated the 150th anniversary of rugby’s oldest rivalry by engineering their first victory at Twickenham since 1983 with the 11-6 scoreline failing to reflect their dominance.
Jones has accepted responsibility and will search for answers ahead of Italy’s visit to Twickenham knowing that England have now been replaced by France as Championship favourites.
“Coaching is about trying to find the edge, how you can do things a little bit better,” Jones said.
“We will be looking into everything, we will be forensic in our analysis of what we did in terms of preparing the team and trying to find ways to do it better.
“I didn’t do it well enough this week along with the coaching staff and we need to find a way to prepare the team better for next week.
“The preparation for the team is a shared responsibility between the players and the coaches. It’s neither one nor the other.
“We’ll definitely speak to the players, but that’s the normal course of action.”
The only aspect of the game where England were not outclassed was the scoreboard and top of Jones’ agenda will be finding out why they were unable to break Scotland’s stranglehold on the 139th meeting between the rivals.
But other flaws were exposed too, most notably an off-key performance from fly-half Owen Farrell and the spectator role played by the back line – even allowing for the lack of ball.
“We didn’t have any tactics because we couldn’t get the ball. You’ve got to have the ball to have some tactics,” Jones said.
“We will definitely do everything we can next week to make sure we are at our best.”
As a senior player, Saracens hooker Jamie George will play a leading role in the soul-searching this week, although he cautions that one loss does not reduce the Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup champions to a spent force.
Former England head coach Sir Clive Woodward has issued his former side a scathing rebuke in the wake of their shock defeat to Scotland on Saturday.https://t.co/Evg6Aybc7R
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 8, 2021
“Everyone is gutted, genuinely gutted. We know we weren’t there and everyone is going to be desperate to get things right,” George said.
“You can do a huge amount in a week, but what is required is a positive mindset from everyone within the group – a mentality that we want to come in and get better and are not going to dwell on the result.
“A big point is that we are restricted, because of Covid protocols, in terms of how much time we can spend together as a team, how much social capital we can build as a team. We need to find a way of doing that.
“But we’ll stick together through these bad times. One bad game doesn’t make a bad team. We’ll make sure that we bounce back.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments