Jones has ‘unwavering support’

England coach Eddie Jones has the ‘‘unwavering support’’ of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) despite their poor performance in finishing fifth in this year’s Six Nations.

Jones in January signed a new deal with the RFU until 2021 after winning two Six Nations titles, with one Grand Slam, and England lost only once since the Australian’s appointment after their calamitous pool stage exit at the 2015 World Cup.

But England, who started their campaign with victories over Italy and Wales, then suffered three straight defeats to Scotland, France and Ireland to slump to their worst finish in the Six Nations since 1987 when the championship had five teams.

RFU boss Steve Brown, speaking to the BBC after a ‘‘very disappointing’’ campaign, said there would be no knee-jerk reaction to England’s sudden loss of form after former England first five-eighth Stuart Barnes called for former Chiefs coach Dave Rennie to replace Jones ahead of next year’s World Cup in Japan.

‘‘The key now is how we respond and turn things around. The reaction I’ve seen from Eddie and the coaching staff gives me some confidence that we are in a good place and we will get this back on track.’’

England face the All Blacks at Twickenham in November, but their first focus will be their next internationals in a three-test series against the Springboks in South Africa in June.

Brown said England were heading in the right trajectory despite losing their last three games.

‘‘The reaction for me is the test as to whether someone has the calibre and character, and I’ve seen that,’’ he said.

‘‘We will never get a bigger test than South Africa.’’