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'We don't want robots... otherwise, you might as well just talk to a computer'
Jason Robinson has urged Twickenham to act decisively in deciding whether Eddie Jones is the right man to lead England into the next World Cup.
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Jones’ future beyond July 2021 when his contract expires is uncertain, with both the head coach and the Rugby Football Union unwilling to state whether he will remain in the role for France 2023.
England sit at the top of the Guinness Six Nations table, putting them in a strong position to win a third title under Jones when a Championship delayed by the outbreak of coronavirus is eventually concluded.
Robinson, the World Cup winner who won 51 Red Rose caps as a devastating wing and full-back, admires the Australian’s win ratio of 79 per cent but insists the RFU must choose quickly.
“For me, everything is based on results. We reached a World Cup final last autumn and, despite not winning, I see that as a success,” said Robinson after taking part in the ‘Wenglish Choir’ on behalf of Guinness Six Nations.
“With one game to go in the tournament, we’re at the top of the standings. That is success. If Eddie stays, then England can build. But if he’s not going to be there beyond 2021 and they want to bring someone else in, it should happen soon rather than later so that the person coming in can build that team towards the World Cup in France.
“It takes time and preparation and you need to have the right players in. Any coach needs to do things his own way and that takes time. If Eddie is the man, then his record shows he’s done a fantastic job with England and I wouldn’t have any problem with him staying on due to the success he’s had.
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“But if he isn’t the man then the sooner you can get somebody else in, it makes a big difference. You see that with Wales and Wayne Pivac replacing Warren Gatland – it’s a big adjustment.”
Jones is a controversial figure at times and none more so than during the current Six Nations. The 60-year-old still has the prospect of a disrepute charge looming over him after he accused referee Ben O’Keeffe of acting as a 16th man for Wales in Saturday’s 33-30 victory at Twickenham.
Earlier in the tournament, he made a race-related gaffe, stated that England could have declared at half-time against Ireland had it been a cricket match and caused an uproar in France for the use of overly-bellicose language.
The RFU must decide whether a win rate that is surpassed only by New Zealand is valuable enough to overlook the frequent verbal detonations, but Robinson certainly thinks it is. “We’re all different people and that’s life. We’re different characters and that’s what makes the game what it is,” the Lions great said.
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“I never enjoy coaching. Winning is a relief. Anyone who tells you they enjoy coaching is lying,” Jones said.https://t.co/U7i9iAAwEe
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 8, 2020
“We don’t want robots. There’s emotion around the game and sometimes you can’t help but relieve some of that emotion. Otherwise, you might as well just talk to a computer. I haven’t been in his coaching shoes at that level, but I know what coaching is like – it can be frustrating and there’s pressure. Sometimes you say stuff.
“It might not be the right time to say, but that’s just human beings in professional sport. I’m glad we see character coming out rather than sport or players being stale. The personalities there are in the game, the more interesting it is.”
– Press Association
WATCH: England’s Eddie Jones with the media following last weekend’s win over Wales
Comments on RugbyPass
Je suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
25 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
25 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
25 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
25 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to comments