Jones: Wales tired

Eddie Jones has ramped up the pressure on Wales ahead of their attempt to win a Six Nations grand slam by claiming that Warren Gatland’s side are ‘‘looking tired’’ and will face an Ireland team who are ‘‘peaking’’ in Cardiff tomorrow.

A defeat for Wales by an Ireland side also with an outside chance of the title would open the door for England, who face Scotland at Twickenham in the final match of ‘‘Super Saturday’’, to win the championship for the third time in four years under head coach Jones.

Wales are aiming for a third grand slam under Gatland, in his final Six Nations before he steps down after the World Cup in Japan in November.

His side produced their finest display of their campaign in beating England in Cardiff last month but struggled during the second half in their 18-11 victory over Scotland in Murrayfield last weekend.

Jones questioned whether Wales were running out of steam as they approached the finishing line.

‘‘Wales are a very good team, they are very well coached, great credit to them for what they have done – but they are starting to look a bit tired,’’ Jones said.

‘‘They have made more tackles than anyone else in the tournament and they are playing against an Ireland side that seems to be peaking at the right time.

‘‘You look at guys like Conor Murray, [Johnny] Sexton, [Garry] Ringrose, [Peter] O’Mahoney, guys that weren’t in great form at the start of the tournament are now starting to come to the fore.

‘‘I am sure the crowd will help Wales overcome that tiredness, but it’s going to be a great game.

‘‘I’m just saying what I see, mate. I see a team that’s looking tired, I see an Ireland team that’s peaking but they’re a good team Wales. ‘‘They’re well coached and I’m sure they’ll handle it.’’ Gatland swiftly hit back, pointing out that England have in fact made more tackles than any other side in the championship – 793 to Wales’s 660.

‘‘What the hell is Eddie Jones doing talking about our game?’’ he said with a laugh.

‘‘If it was me I’d be concentrating on playing Scotland. I’ve got no comment on Eddie talking about us.

‘‘If you look at the stats England have made a hell of a lot more tackles than us in this tournament. My advice to Eddie is to concentrate on the Scotland match.’’

Jones, who has made four changes from the side who defeated Italy, including the surprise omission of Joe Cokanasiga from the 23-man squad, offered an upbeat assessment of the condition of his own players, predicting their best performance would come tomorrow.

Reuters