Tetchy Jones still smarting
– For a man on the brink of matching rugby’s world record winning run, England coach Eddie Jones cut an irritable, tetchy figure yesterday during a news conference that left everyone wondering what he will be like when he loses a game.
Victory for the defending Six Nations champions over Scotland at Twickenham today would take England’s winning run to 18 – matching the tier-one record set by New Zealand last year.
Jones has been responsible for 16 of those victories in a dream first 15 months in the job but the last of them, against Italy two weeks ago, clearly still rankles.
The Australian was furious at Italy’s no-ruck tactic in that game and after pundits and ex-players were united in criticising his team for taking too long to adapt to it, he did not seem to have calmed down in the fortnight since.
Jones, a master media manipulator during his time as Wallabies coach, also appeared to be upset at stories suggesting that Billy Vunipola would be in the starting team based on photos of a tactics session on a whiteboard at the team’s training base.
“The Daily Telegraph picked him for us and we decided we’d change our minds,” he said of Vunipola’s selection among the replacements after his recovery from injury. “We didn’t say he would play.”
Centre Owen Farrell received lengthy treatment for an injury during morning training but Jones, becoming more irascible with each question he faced, was in no mood for clarification.
“He could be in doubt, mate,” he said.
“He’s got a bad leg, so he couldn’t finish training. I think he ran into my dog. I think he’ll be alright. He’s in doubt but we’ll see.” –
He’s got a bad leg, so he couldn’t finish training. I think he ran into my dog. Eddie Jones England coach