Eddie Jones needs a Kiwi
The question going around the British rugby community is: how do England recover after their Six Nations horror show.
And if you ask a group of experts, the answer could be bringing in a Kiwi attack coach to help Eddie Jones out.
In a question and answer section for The Times, Owen Slot, Ben Kay, Stuart Barnes and Alex Lowe were asked if Jones needs an attack coach. Jason O’Halloran, Daryl Gibson and Wayne Smith were then suggested as men who could come in and make a difference, alongside former Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan.
‘‘Yes. The problem is finding someone to work in an area where Jones wants so much control,’’ Times reporter Slot said.
‘‘Recommended hire: Jason O’Halloran, a Kiwi working at Glasgow Warriors, though hard to see him wanting the job.’’
It was former England international Kay who suggested Waratahs coach Gibson, someone he said ‘‘would challenge Jones and they could be a potent combination’’.
‘‘Partly because having their confidence dented the players need to believe something is being done to kick-start the recovery.’’
He said a ‘‘new voice’’ and fresh ideas from someone like Gibson would help.
Barnes, another former England international, pondered if Smith could be pulled away from his Italy commitments and into the England camp.
If not, ‘‘a return to Glen Ella, who did well in Australia, would make sense.’’
Jones has been under the pump after England slumped to fifth in the recent Six Nations, with Ireland sprinting home with the Grand Slam.