Barrett’s intel leaves English officials fuming
Eddie Jones has not attended an English Premiership club’s training session this season, the Daily Telegraph understands, as scrutiny grows over the extent of the England head coach’s extra-curricular activities.
Jones flew to Japan to start working at Japanese Top League side Suntory Sungoliath just days after being exonerated by a Rugby Football Union review into England’s worst Six Nations finish, where he has been coaching New Zealand first five Beauden Barrett among other rival internationals.
On Tuesday, Barrett revealed that the “little pieces of gold” he had been receiving from Jones at Suntory are “going to help make me a much better player”.
By contrast, most English Premiership clubs have had little contact with their national coach this year.
While his assistant coaches have been frequent visitors to training sessions, Jones has held direct meetings with just a handful of directors of rugby.
Those “little pieces of gold” have not been directed towards players such as Exeter first five Joe Simmonds, who has only ever received one phone call from Jones and never met face-toface, despite captaining his club to a European and English double last season.
At the other end of the country, Newcastle Falcons have not received any England coaching visits this season. Former
England captain Nick
Easter, now the Falcons’ defence coach, believes Jones should be prioritising his preparations for the summer tour.
“It seems a bit odd and that’s probably putting it softly,” Easter said.
“Being an assistant coach, let alone a head coach or director of rugby at a club, let alone being an international head coach for one of the elite rugby nations, is more than full time. “It can be all-consuming.
“He might say that he is seeing what is going on in the other parts of the world.
“You would think after finishing fifth in the Six Nations, he might be better placed getting to know the ins and outs closer to home. “We have an open-door policy. It has never been a closed shop.
“Anyone who wants to come in and observe and discuss players are welcome to do so. “The door is always open.”
The RFU would not confirm whether its board was told of Jones’ role at Suntory when he was hired in 2015.
Multiple sources have said there was general surprise at the RFU.
His defenders argue that coaching Barrett is a two-way street in which England will benefit from Jones being up close and personal with the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year.
However, even with a workaholic coach such as Jones, there is mounting unease that he is spreading himself too thin at a time when he has promised to press the reset button on this current England side heading towards the 2023 World Cup.
— Telegraph Group UK