Unlikeable England under fire
The Six Nations may have been halted by the coronavirus outbreak, but the big hits keep coming off the field.
Former Ireland player Alan Quinlan labelled England as ‘‘the most unlikeable team in recent memory’’ to be likely champions and called coach Eddie Jones and captain Owen Farrell ‘‘a looselipped general and a petulant first lieutenant’’.
Writing in the Belfast Telegraph, Quinlan said England were a good side but the way they played was ‘‘spraying lighter fluid across a game that is already engaged in its fair share of fire-fighting.’’
The 27-test loose forward, who retired in 2011, feels England push boundaries on violence, goad opponents and question the integrity of referees.
‘‘Jones is comfortable playing the villain and it’s become increasingly obvious that his players are too, with Owen Farrell, his skipper, one of the best in the world on his day, the offspring of the Irish head coach, now his chief sidekick,’’ Quinlan wrote.
He pilloried Jones for saying France should expect ‘‘absolute brutality’’ ahead of their Six Nations clash earlier this season, after teenage French player Nicolas Chauvin died in late 2018 after breaking his neck in a tackle.
Quinlan also felt Jones calling the sending off of Manu Tulilagi against Wales ‘‘absolute rubbish’’ was disrespectful to Kiwi ref Ben O’Keeffe and damaging to a game trying to limit head injuries.
‘‘A good captain shouldn’t be giving away four penalties in 24 minutes – why do you think I was near the end of the queue for leadership roles in my playing days?
‘‘I was a pain in the backside to play against at times but the likes of Farrell and Maro Itoje have taken the commitment to provocation to a different level.’’
Quinlan received a 12-week ban in 2009 for making contact to the eye area of an opponent during a Cup semifinal and subsequently missed the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
Quinlan said England have shown a clear intention to push the boundaries of aggression, bordering on violent behaviour.
‘‘It may well be a reaction to getting pushed around the park by the Springboks in Yokohama four months ago but whatever the cause, it needs to be addressed.’’
‘‘[Eddie] Jones is comfortable playing the villain and it’s become increasingly obvious that his players are too.’’ Alan Quinlan