Why Eddie Jones is unlikely to be going to any future World Rugby meetings

Duncan Bech 17:43 14/11/2018
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  • Sam Underhill dives over but it wasn't to be for the England flanker.

    Eddie Jones is considering boycotting future World Rugby meetings for coaches and referees after declaring them a “waste of time”.

    England were denied victory over New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday after a late try by Sam Underhill was ruled out for offside by referee Jerome Garces following intervention from TMO Marius Jonker.

    The call against Courtney Lawes, who had charged down TJ Perenara’s box kick to give Underhill his opportunity, was borderline and has divided opinion.

    Adding to England’s frustration is that at last week’s World Rugby-organised gathering of officials and coaches to discuss key areas of the game, the revised TMO protocol was outlined.

    Among the changes is that try-scoring should be an on-field decision made by the referee and that the TMO should only be consulted in the case of a “clear and obvious” infringement, which Lawes’ offside was not.

    Eddie Jones, Head coach of England

    Jones refuses to condemn the officials, but insists “there is something wrong, somewhere.”

    “I don’t think I’ll go to another referees’ meeting in my life. It’s a waste of time,” Jones said.

    “The referees have a tough job, tough decisions to make, and all we want in rugby is consistency in decision making. We are happy to take every decision they make.

    “But if we have policies then we have to follow them. If we don’t follow them, then what is the point in being involved in those policies and decision making?

    “I would rather just accept it and get on with it. Smile at the end of the game if it doesn’t go our way, know that if it does go our way, it won’t the next time.

    “That’s the way it goes, you either get the rub of the green or you don’t. I don’t have any sour grapes at all about the game.

    “You win some, you lose some, and get on with it. But there is something wrong, somewhere.”

    George Kruis has been ruled out of the remaining two autumn internationals against Japan and Australia because of a calf injury, while Manu Tuilagi is unlikely to be play any role against the Brave Blossoms at Twickenham on Saturday.

    Tuilagi

    England are determined to avoid any threat to Tuilagi’s comeback from a minor groin strain after the Leicester centre put years of injury misfortune behind him to propel himself into contention this autumn.

    “Manu needs to go at absolutely 100 per cent. You see these games and they are getting so much more physically exacting. You need to be at 100 per cent,” Jones said.

    “He’s a different sort of athlete. He’s like a racehorse that has to be their absolute best to run a mile at his best. He’s a finely tuned athlete and you have got to have him right.

    “It is no use playing him when he is not right because all you do is cause damage, physical and psychological.”

    Dylan Hartley should be available after being replaced at half-time against New Zealand due to a thumb problem, prematurely ending his finest display for England for some time.

    “Generally speaking, he is going well. He can work a bit harder. More actions. More tackles, more clean-outs, more carries. He can do more of that, but he’s going well,” Jones said.

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