JONES TO FACE NEW SCRUTINY
Coach agrees to big changes
EDDIE JONES has survived a review into England’s Six Nations flop but told his performance will now be monitored by “external experts”.
Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney had warned that “no stone would be left unturned” in determining the cause of England’s fifth-place finish – the nation’s worst campaign in the championship since 1976.
A month on, the verdict of an unnamed review panel was that Jones retained the “full support” of his employers despite England losing to every other home nation.
However, Twickenham chiefs have revealed that a group of former Red
Rose coaches and players would now be asked to bolster the process of trying to make the England team great again.
“The RFU will ensure external rugby experts inform all future debriefs to provide additional insight and support for the head coach,” said a spokesperson, who refused to disclose names.
“These external advisors will also be utilised after each campaign to provide regular reviews and support for the coaching strategy for future Six Nations campaigns and in the build-up to Rugby
World Cup 2023.”
The move follows chastening defeats by Scotland, Wales and Ireland, after which former World Cup-winning coach
Sir Clive Woodward, above, said: “I just don’t know who is there at Twickenham to question Eddie because he seems to be all-powerful.”
The governing body, it would appear, have taken note.
Jones described the debrief as a “valuable process”, conceding England had not been “up to our usual high standards”.
“We all learnt a lot from the experience,” he added. “Most importantly, we have identified actions to enable the team to move forward positively towards 2023.” Sweeney praised Jones for approaching the review with a “great deal of selfawareness and humility” and for allowing the union to “look at every aspect of the tournament to identify every small change we can make in order to improve”. He pledged that several recommendations would be implemented before England’s next game.
Among these are RFU plans to “deepen its alignment” with England’s professional clubs “to find common ground and goals for the English game going forward”. There will also be additional refereeing input in a bid to rectify England’s dreadful ill-discipline.
❑ WALES captain Alun Wyn Jones has extended his deal with Ospreys and the Welsh Rugby Union to take him through to the end of next season.
❑ SARACENS boss Mark McCall and his coaching team have signed new deals to stay at the club until at least 2025.