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The 'big' reason why one England player doesn't want Jones sacked
Knives have been sharpened for Eddie Jones in the wake of the 32-15 England loss to Ireland last Saturday – but one player who had plenty to feel aggrieved about in the past with the Australian has given him a vote of confidence heading into this weekend’s Guinness Six Nations finale in France. Sam Simmonds spent years in the England wilderness, the Exeter No8 even getting to tour South Africa with the 2021 Lions before Jones finally ended the player’s near four-year wait to be capped by his country.
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Simmonds started the March 2018 defeat to Ireland and despite recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered not long after that Six Nations appearance, it took until last November’s Autumn Nations Series game versus Australia to finally bridge a 44-month gap in between England caps.
The back-rower is now part of the 2022 Six Nations campaign, starting in the losses to Scotland and Ireland and coming off the bench in the wins over Italy and Wales. With England out of the title equation, as they prepare to take on the Grand Slam-chasing France, there has been plenty of speculation that Jones has taken the team as far as he can and shouldn’t be in charge for the 2023 World Cup.
However, the effects of his coaching received support on Tuesday from Simmonds who gave the England boss the thumbs up despite this year’s mixed results mirroring the fortunes of their 2021 effort. That culminated in the fifth-place finish that prompted Jones to try-out new players such as Marcus Smith, Harry Randall and Freddie Steward while also giving Simmonds his shot at redemption after an incredibly exhaustive wait.
It was put to Simmonds at his lunchtime media briefing that the knives were out for Jones 24 hours earlier when the coach fronted the Monday press session and the question posed to the 27-year-old was, ‘Is he the right man to lead England forward?’
Simmonds replied: “He [Jones] has improved my game. I wouldn’t say there is a player that has come through into camp that hasn’t gone away – whether they are playing or whether they are going back to their club – that hasn’t improved and taken things on board that Eddie says. His experience in the game is amazing and when he talks, boys listen.
“I feel like as a group this campaign probably more than any other we have come together as a squad. Although it hasn’t maybe reflected in results, the Scotland and most recently the Ireland game, I feel like people can see, especially at Twickenham, it felt like people could see what it meant for us as players to play for England.
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“But also we are not just playing for England, we are playing for the coaches and I guess it is big to see that and now much maybe confidence we have in what Eddie does in how we played the game at the weekend.”
The 34-man squad announced by Jones on Monday to train for two days at Pennyhill ahead of the trip to France included the name of Jack Willis for the first time since his terrible injury suffered just minutes after scoring his first England career try in the February 2021 win over Italy. With Tom Curry now out injured, Willis was asked to showcase how his comeback is going just weeks after getting back into the action at Wasps.
“Tom is a big miss. Any international team would miss someone of his quality but Jack being fit is amazing,” reckoned Simmonds. “He has worked hard over the last year. I know what it is like to have knee injuries, how hard it is to fit back, and his wasn’t straightforward and had a lot of bumps on the road for him.
“To be able to put some games together for Wasps in the last couple of weeks and to be back in the international mix is amazing. We have got good players coming back in. (Sam) Underhill coming back in, Alfie (Barbeary) has been amazing throughout the whole campaign. It is a shame losing Tom but we have got some boys to come back in to fill a spot.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot 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.
26 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.
2 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.
26 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 comments