England buoyed by Erasmus amid Jones uncertainty

ENGLAND’S top rugby union of f icia l has said t he example of South Africa’s World Cupw i n n i ng s upr emo R a s s ie E ra smus mea n s t hey c a n avoid rushing into a decision on whether Eddie Jones will still be in charge for t he 2023 edition in France.

Australian coach Jones (pictured, AFP) took England a ll t he way to t his year’s f inal in Japan, only for his side to be over whel med 32-12 by t he r e s u r g e nt Spr i n g b ok s i n Yokohama last month.

Jones’ current contract runs until 2021 and there are those who a rg ue t he tea m would benefit from knowing as soon as possible whether he will be in charge for the next World Cup.

Bill Sweeney, the chief executive of England’s governing Rugby Football Union, said in

Japan it would “make sense” for Jones to st ay on u nt i l 2023.

But wit h Erasmus hav ing g uided Sout h A f r ica out of one of t he worst per iods i n t heir r ugby histor y to world cha mpion s i n a mere 18 mont h s a nd t h e r e c e nt appointment of Ian Foster as t he new coach of New Zealand on just a t wo-year contract, Sweeney insisted Tuesday t here was no hur r y to extend Jones’ deal.

“At t his stage, why would you do t hat now? ” Sweeney told repor ter s at Tw ickenham.

“New Zea la nd have just appointed Foster on a t woyear contract. Erasmus came in 18 months before the World Cup. Is it better to have someone in t here for t he four-year period leading up to it?

“It may well l be, more stabilit y, but I wouldn’t ldn’t say t here is a date in the e diar y when we have to make e a decision othot her wise we’re not going to be ready for France. nce.

“T h e r e ’s n o l o o m i n g deadline where here we need to ma k e a pr e s si s i ng decision.”

‘A great job’

L a s t m o n t h ’s reverse was England’s third defeat efeat i n f ou r World or l d C u p f i n a l a pp e a r a nc e s , w i t h t h e i r lone success c o m i n g when t he y beat an Aus- t r a l i a s i d e c o a c he d b y

Jone s i n t he 2003 showpiece in Sydney.

But it represented a vast i m p r o v e - me n t o n t h e i r f irst-round i rstex it on home soil at the 2015 edition, a performa nc e t h a t l e d t o Jone s’ a ppoi ppo nt ment a s E ng l a nd coach coac follow ing t he sack ing of Stu Stuart Lancaster.

“[ Jones] J has done a g reat job, a rea l ly good job,” sa id Sweeney. Swee “From December 2015, 2015 if you look at where we were when he ca me in he’s done don an outstanding job. “But we’ll look at a ll t he va r ious pros a nd cons and make a decision on what i s i n t he be s t i ntere st s of Eng la nd rugby for ward.” Sweeney added: “If it’s the r right thing for him to stay, i f he wants to stay a nd we want him to stay t hen it’ll go t hat way.

“I “If f t here a re a ny rea sons why not, it’l l go t hat way. I woul wouldn’t say it is a case of wa it i ng f or a y e a r or 18 months.”

Jone s i s a not or i ou s l y d e m a n d i n g c o a c h b u t Sweeney said a t wo-day tourna ment debr ief a f ter t he World Cup, which feat ured anonymous input from 27 of t he 32-man squad in Japa n, had been “over whelming ly positive”.

“The rev iew was ver y supportive,” Sweeney added.

“He a nd I sat dow n a nd talked on a number of occasions. He ( Jones) is away at the moment, he’s in Japan.

“At t he moment he’s cont r ac ted t h roug h a nd f u l l y committed to seeing out the contract until 2021 and we’ll ta ke it from t here.”

England’s next match wil l be t heir Si x Nat ions opener away to Fra nce i n Pa r is on Februar y 2.