MAY: ‘DEFEAT HAS GIVEN ENGLAND AN EXTRA EDGE’

ENGLAND wing Jonny May has said that they have been been ‘smashing each other’ in training after the Calcutta Cup defeat by Scotland. Victory over France in Paris on Saturday is essential if England are to salvage their Six Nations campaign, which culminates with a Twickenham clash against Ireland on March 17. ‘The boys have been training hard and smashing each other in training,’ said May. ‘It’s not that we were complacent but sometimes you do get beaten and it does bring an edge and a desire to get back out there and put it right.’ England head coach Eddie Jones will decide this morning whether to change his starting XV, but Elliot Daly’s return could challenge May’s place in the back three. Meanwhile, flanker Sam Underhill was ruled out for the remainder of the season after he suffered a foot injury in training. Scan results yesterday revealed a torn ligament in his big toe. Medics had initially hoped he could return to fill the No 7 jersey in next week’s finale against Ireland — before Bath coach Todd Blackadder revealed the worst. ‘He’s torn the ligament under the big toe,’ Blackadder told the

Bath Chronicle. ‘That effectively rules him out for the rest of the season.’ Winger Jack Nowell will miss next week’s Test through injury and Dylan Hartley faces a fitness test on a calf strain. Meanwhile, Jones could be shortlisted to take over as Australia coach after next year’s World Cup. Current coach Michael Cheika has said he will step down if Australia do not lift the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan. Jones was sacked by the Wallabies in 2005 but, despite being contracted to England until 2021, he could be tempted by a return to his homeland. ‘I can’t speak on behalf of the board, but if I’m tasked with pulling together a list of potential candidates... is Eddie Jones on there? Yeah, he is,’ said Australia high performance manager Ben Whitaker.