'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.
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.
“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.
“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
Just came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
4 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
4 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
4 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
4 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
3 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
3 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
228 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
87 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
30 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
228 Go to comments