Eddie Jones' verbal warfare not lost on at least one member of enemy camp
Scotland prop Allan Dell expects Eddie Jones to pick his words more wisely ahead of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup duel after seeing the England coach’s latest pre-match barb spectacularly backfire in Paris.
The Red Rose boss warned France’s new-look side to prepare for a level of “brutality” and “violence” they have never experienced before in the build-up to Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations opener.
But instead it was a youthful Les Bleus side which dished out lessons in physicality as they dominated Jones’ men in a one-sided 24-17 triumph.
Jones has never been shy on things to say about Gregor Townsend’s team, famously damning them with faint praise when he declared them the “darlings” of Europe two years ago.
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WATCH: Press conference with England head coach Eddie Jones and captain Owen Farrell after their side’s 24-17 loss to France in their Guinness Six Nations opener at the Stade de France
But it was the Scots who have had the last laugh since, first beating the Auld Enemy at Murrayfield in 2018 before staging a remarkable fightback to claim a stunning 38-38 draw at Twickenham last year.
Jones’ words may not have done his team any favours but Dell is a fan of the outspoken Australian.
The keen Liverpool fan even likened him to Jose Mourinho and believes his tactics pay off more than they fail.
The London Irish forward said: “You’d assume (England will be angry), especially after what Eddie’s been saying in the media.
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“I don’t think he did his players much justice throwing them out there to that. They’re a team full of pride with players who have achieved a lot, so they’ll be hurting.
“They’re coming here to make a statement having not beat us for two years. Eddie I know will be in their ears. He’s a smart man and he will be hyping them up the right way.
“I don’t think he has too much to say. Look at football and how Jose Mourinho used to do it. I think he’s very sharp in that way.
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“He takes the focus away from his team and lets them get on with what they need to do and he lets the media get on to him.
“That’s fantastic for a manager to do but sometimes it backfires.”
Scotland suffered defeat to Ireland in their own Championship curtain-raiser in Dublin but have the chance to get back on track when England arrive into Edinburgh this weekend.
However, Dell admits some within his camp had been hoping Jones’ team had made a winning start.
“What does a wounded animal do when it’s backed up in the corner?” he asked.
“It attacks you. A few of the boys were saying they hoped England would smash France and come here and underestimate us a bit. They will have a point to prove now.”
Dell was part of the team which recovered from 31-0 down a year ago.
Only a stoppage-time try from George Ford spared England’s blushes after the Scots came roaring back after the break.
But the former Edinburgh front-rower admits his side cannot afford to make such a slow start this time around.
He said: “The first half was dark. We need to make sure we don’t make the mistakes of last year and let them start quick.
“The second half was unbelievable. We just couldn’t hold on at the end. We lost our cool and got a bit excited.
“We’re a nation of fighters. Our history is full of tales of us having our backs against the walls and fighting our way out of it.
“But this is Test rugby and we can’t afford to give teams a head start. With the second half we had, we should have won that game but with the lead England had from the first half, they only needed one try and it ended as a draw.
“We just need to make sure we stay in the fight the whole time.”
PA
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to comments