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Twitter reacts: Weary England fans aren't buying Eddie's latest scapegoat
Eddie Jones has faced some heavy criticism from fans on Twitter after blaming England’s 2015 World Cup exit for their current mental fragilities.
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The head coach is seeking to bring in an expert to help, as many feel that surrendering a 31 point lead to Scotland at the weekend was the final straw.
Jones has been widely lambasted by fans, as this is becoming an all too common theme for England rugby. During the summer tour of South Africa, England blew a 21 point lead in the first test, and suffered a similar loss in the second test. In the Autumn, Jones men also lost to the All Blacks after leading at half time. Finally, England failed to beat both Wales and Scotland despite leading at the break. In their defence, they were also down against South Africa in the first Autumn test, but showed the mental fortitude to fight back.
England infamously failed to exit the pool stage at the World Cup, losing to Wales and Australia in their group, again losing to Warren Gatland’s men from a winning position.
This, Jones believes, has left a mental scar on the team.
Many fans have also argued how less than half the players who started in the World Cup in 2015 were playing last weekend. While that is true, that does not mean that Jones is incorrect. For instance, the All Blacks struggled to fight off the ‘chokers’ tag at World Cups, which oversaw a number of generations of players.
One of the main criticisms surrounding Jones’ comments, however, is the timing. Many fans feel that Jones has had four years to address these problems, and has left it very late with only six months to go before the World Cup. This is what the fans are saying:
https://twitter.com/lukestokes84/status/1107412799129640960
https://twitter.com/60degree/status/1107402893710319618
https://twitter.com/J5KERN/status/1107406449917992960
https://twitter.com/Rice0211A/status/1107566071849107456
https://twitter.com/cc_rap23/status/1107538481721409537
https://twitter.com/Rhino_Phillips/status/1107558396574732288
4 years too late Fast Eddie
— goony#2 (@Neil36314107) March 18, 2019
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Sports psychologists are commonplace amongst professional teams, and it has surprised some on Twitter that England are not already using one. The All Blacks have hugely benefited from a psychologist, with Dan Carter being a major exponent of the help that they can provide.
While this would undoubtedly benefit England, many fans feel that Jones has to take a lot of responsibility himself. English fans, as well as those from rival nations, feel that these are just more excuses from the fromer Japan boss, and he is partly responsible for these frequent slip-ups.
https://twitter.com/tjjodmill117/status/1107023089144135682
https://twitter.com/gav21011/status/1107213527679451136
https://twitter.com/Gemma_Dorling/status/1107592977080303617
https://twitter.com/22Larkhill/status/1107019022762168321
https://twitter.com/frazernh/status/1107535687765639168
Ah Eddie Jones, always the man behind the wins, never the man behind the losses.
— MarcB (@555Husker) March 18, 2019
Although some fans are calling for Jones to step down, he feels that the issue will be resolved come the World Cup. There is no doubting his credentials as a manager, and his 18-match winning streak proves that, but a growing number of fans are asking questions of him.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’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.
11 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.
9 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 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?
5 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 comments