Six Nations: England coach Eddie Jones needs to sit down and shut up

Alex Broun 16:43 09/02/2018
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  • Okay Eddie – enough.

    Yes you have done a truly remarkable job in guiding England to 23 wins out of 24 starts since you took over, winning back-to-back Six Nations titles and taking England to No2 in the world rankings, but seriously, your behaviour is getting out of hand now.

    I know everybody loves a good quote – and in a world of the dryest of dry sports personalities you are an oasis of colourful verbiage – everybody is glad for that. But you are taking things too far.

    All good to talk up your team and promise them to be “brutal and absolutely ruthless” but when you start taking potshots at opposing players it really is beyond the pale.

    It is the greatest irony that Jones is criticising Wales captain, Lions legend and all-round good guy Alun Wyn Jones for being “out of order” for trying to slow down Finn Russell’s conversion last week against Scotland.

    It is the England coach’s comments that are out of order, both in his bizarre attack on Alun Wyn and also on his off-field targeting of new Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell.

    Jones must be very very confident of an England victory, or else he wouldn’t be stoking the Welsh fire with the ammunition that he is giving Warren Gatland to fire up his troops at Twickenham on Saturday.

    CARDIFF, WALES - FEBRUARY 03: Wales player Rhys Patchell runs at the Scotland defence during the NatWest 6 Nations game between Wales and Scotland at Principality Stadium on February 3, 2018 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

    Rhys Patchell has been one of Eddie Jones’ targets.

    If Gatland needs a fire-and-brimstone team talk all he needs to do is stick Jones’ comments up on the wall. Nothing will galvanise the Red Dragons to heroic feats more than defending the honour of their captain and standing beside a new brother.

    The only explanation for Jones’ rash remarks is that he has got carried away – as he did when he was sanctioned by World Rugby for being caught swearing on camera during the autumn internationals, unhappy with a referee’s decision.

    But now Jones’ is leaping to the defence of the referee, Pascal Gauzere, and admonishing Alun Wyn for the temerity to question a decision, which is every captain’s right.

    And as for his attack on Patchell, trying to sow seeds of doubt and fear in the mind of the Scarlets No10, it is very poor form indeed. It is reminiscent of Graham Henry’s uncalled for attacks on Quade Cooper in the 2011 Rugby World Cup – comments that almost came back to haunt Henry.

    All Jones does is make everyone hate England more, get further behind Wales and desperately hope Patchell and Alun Wyn teach him a lesson.

    It also makes his future appointment as Lions coach a little more difficult. Time to let your players do the talking on the field “Uncle Eddie” – and give it a break.

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