‘I’m worried about Courtney’s health ... he needs to rest’
LAWES TO MISS THE AUTUMN
EDDIE JONES has ruled Courtney Lawes out of the rest of the autumn schedule, insisting his skipper’s health is more important than a swift comeback.
Lawes, who captained England in their 2-1 summer win against Australia, has concussion issues after a knock playing for Northampton against Leicester on September 24.
The 33-year-old back-row has been going through return-to-play protocols at Saints but Jones says he can have as much time as he wants. Lawes would have been favourite to retain the captaincy for the autumn Tests, which kicked off with a disastrous 30-29 reverse to Argentina on Sunday.
With a World Cup looming next year, the head coach wants one of his leading players fit and ready for the Six Nations.
“There’s been no movement there at the moment,” said Jones. “I’m worried about his health at this time, that he gets back to 100 percent. If it takes a little bit of time, the most important thing is his health and he’ll get back to playing rugby when he’s ready.
“He needs some rest now, rather than feeling like he has to rush to come back. We are allowing it to take its natural course.
“We are in communication with his medical staff but we are letting him rest.
We’re hopeful that he will be back for the Six Nations.” The defeat by the Pumas was England’s fifth in nine internationals this year and Jones wants his side fired up against Japan back at Twickenham on Saturday. He said: “I want us to be angry and play with a certain sort of anger. We dominated territory and possession, but we just weren’t good enough at converting that pressure into points.
“We need to be a bit more aggressive and assertive in the way that we attack. I’ve got no doubt that we will do that.”
Jones confirmed ex-Aussie rugby league star and Hull FC coach Brett Hodgson will join his staff as defence coach after the autumn. Hodgson is shadowing Anthony Seibold this month before Seibold leaves the England backroom staff to become head coach of Manly in Australia’s NRL.
It is yet another league convert joining the team after Seibold, and Jones said: “If you look at the history of professional rugby, defence has been set by rugby league coaches.
“If I look right back in the early and mid-90s, it was Phil Larder in England and John Muggleton in Australia. “Both were league coaches and set defensive systems good enough for England and Australia to make the World Cup final in 2003.”