Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Genge admits strained relationship with Eddie Jones made him a better player

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Murrayfield match winner Ellis Genge admits he has exchanged sharp words with Eddie Jones after taking exception to criticism from England’s head coach.

ADVERTISEMENT

Genge rumbled across the whitewash for the 70th-minute try that sealed a 13-6 victory over Scotland in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash in Edinburgh, winning his 16th cap as a replacement off the bench.

The fiery 24-year-old prop provides England with a hard edge up front, but he has not always seen eye to eye with the coach who gave him his Test debut.

“I was quite lucky. I got my cap in 2016 after playing minimal minutes in the Premiership and I thought ‘here we go, I’m an England player’. And I told Eddie that,” Genge said.

Continue reading below…

WATCH: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell and captain Johnny Sexton press conference following their victory over Wales in the Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Video Spacer

“I thought I was ready for it and I wasn’t. I got made aware of that last year when we played Scotland at home and we were 30 points up and ended up drawing 38-38.

“We went away and Eddie picked my game apart. I threw a pass out the back for the try that drew the game, but I also missed some tackles that got them back into the game.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I wasn’t fit enough back then but I went away and worked on my game relentlessly.

“He’s been a very harsh critic of mine behind closed doors and I appreciate that. I need that.

“We’ve had our spats. We’ve had our arguments about what he thinks is going bad and what is going good. You take that stuff personally.

“If you don’t, you are probably in the wrong line of work. But it’s been good for me. I’ve gone away and worked on my game and it’s come to fruition.

“I’m by no means the finished article. I’m just looking forward to getting better and I’m happy under Eddie.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Six Nations officials are speaking to the Scottish and English unions after Jones’ right-hand man Neil Craig was struck by a plastic beer bottle as the players and backroom staff entered the stadium.

Genge rails against what he believes is the hypocrisy of hostility being acceptable at Murrayfield.

“I’ll tell you for a fact, if that happened at Twickenham – which it never does – we’d be getting called “English this and English that, can’t believe the lack of respect from the English, X, Y and Z,” he said.

“But it happens away at Murrayfield and everyone is happy about it, saying ‘it’s good for the game’.”

PA

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 11

Chasing The Sun | Series 1 Episode 1

Abbie Ward: A Bump in the Road

Pacific Four Series 2024 | Canada vs USA

Japan Rugby League One | Verblitz v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Fresh Starts | Episode 2 | Sam Whitelock

Royal Navy Men v Royal Air Force Men | Full Match Replay

Royal Navy Women v Royal Air Force Women | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jon 8 hours ago
The case for keeping the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby Pacific

I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.

24 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE The era-defining moment that set Leinster on the road to success The era-defining moment that set Leinster on the road to success
Search