'It makes sense doesn't it' - RFU chief admits England keen on Eddie Jones beyond 2021
Eddie Jones will remain England head coach until at least 2021 and possibly beyond after his performance at the World Cup received the approval of Twickenham.
Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney wants Jones to see out his contract and hinted at the prospect of a new deal being agreed that will keep him in charge for France 2023.
England were overrun 32-12 by South Africa in Saturday’s World Cup final but dismantled Australia and New Zealand en route to reaching the Yokohama showpiece.
Jones has also masterminded one Grand Slam and a Six Nations title since replacing Stuart Lancaster at the end of 2015 and Sweeney still views him as the outstanding candidate for the job.
“Eddie’s one of the world’s best coaches – if not the best – despite the result against South Africa,” Sweeney said.
“One of the first priorities when we get back will be to sit down and have a chat. We will do it as a matter of urgency.
“Eddie is committed to his contract through to the end of August 2021 and he is fulfilling that.
“There are a lot of emotions flying around after a game so let the dust settle a little bit and then see where his head’s at, see how he feels about it.
“But the first step is to honour that contract through to 2021 and then we’ll discuss what goes on beyond that.”
When asked about the wisdom of appointing a coach for an entire World Cup cycle rather than for a two-year spell, Sweeney said: “It makes sense doesn’t it?
'There must be some sort of dire, lasting effect of coming into contact with Pieter Steph du Toit at the breakdown.'
– @samrobertsrugby on the brute facts of the #RWC Finalhttps://t.co/8gCDqFy2Og
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 3, 2019
“If you’re going to go through to France 2023 it’s nice to have that unbroken stretch, but both parties have got to be completely happy with it.
“We just need to sit down when we get back, have a couple bottles of red wine and chat about where it goes.”
Jones is on the radars of Australia and Fiji but it is the former that could push the most emotive buttons after the 59-year-old spent four years coaching the Wallabies until he was sacked in 2005.
Michael Cheika has stepped down after the quarter-final and there is a sense of unfinished business between Jones and the 1991 and 1999 champions.
“When you’re in Eddie’s position, you’re going to have people sniffing around and you can imagine the story Australia would put together,” Sweeney said.
“We can only control our relationship with him and we can only control what we will wrap around him to enable us to perform at our best.”
What were the other 53 million people doing?
*It's been an amazing @rugbyworldcup https://t.co/nSnQojJGGx
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 3, 2019
Sweeney is convinced there is growth left in the Jones regime following his success in guiding a nation that was knocked of the 2015 World Cup at the group stage into the final four years later.
“Yeah, I do think so. He’s done a fantastic job with this squad – look where we were at the last tournament,” he said.
“I don’t think those scars will ever go from not getting out of the group but look what he’s done to bring the team here and some of the risks he’s taken.
“He’s unearthed some fantastic players who have huge careers ahead with England. He gets on well with that squad, he’s committed to England rugby, so he’s got an awful lot more to offer yet.
“It’s not job done yet, it’s a bit like a pipeline and there’s other players out there who need to be brought on.
“He’s probably going to look to get a pool together of 50-55 players who can go the entire distance so he’ll be looking long-term.”
England assistant coaches Neal Hatley and Scott Wisemantel step down from their posts this month and there is also doubt over the future of Steve Borthwick, who has been linked with Leicester.
Talks are already underway with their potential successors and the expectation is that their appointments will be made sooner rather than later.
Apart from the discussions with Jones, Sweeney will implement a review of the World Cup conducted by a “quality panel” that will be overseen by a “highly respected” chairman.
No scrum = no win #RWCFinal #RWC2019 #Scrum https://t.co/ycJQVTJ8Aq
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 2, 2019
It will take place in mid-November and will include verbal feedback from the 32 players that made up the squad in Japan.
“I’ve been very close to this particular campaign so I’m not expecting anything in there that is going to shock us,” said Sweeney, who has promised to maintain the current level of funding for the England team.
“But it would be remiss of us if we didn’t look at everything that has happened and see what we can learn from it and how it can take us forward into 2023.”
Sweeney confirmed that former England captain Will Carling will continue to raise funds from the City after generating £250,000 last summer to help fund the World Cup campaign.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
7 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
13 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
13 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments