USE THE HATE
Jones wants to feed off anti-English feeling
EDDIE JONES is already aware just how much national identity matters amid the tribal maelstrom of the RBS 6 Nations — and it hasn’t taken the Australian long to realise that, for England, it involves being hated.
The head coach has been in charge for just two games and is alert to the partisan fervour and cross-border animosity — primarily aimed at those wearing the Red Rose.
As his squad stepped up preparations to face Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday, Jones echoed the views expressed by his old sparring partner, Sportsmail columnist Sir Clive Woodward, saying: ‘Maybe Clive summed it up best when he said everyone hates England.
‘It’s true. Because of the history that is involved and the surrounding countries, with the social and historical context; that long-seated rivalry, there is a hatred of England and you can feel that.
‘I’m not going to use it, but within the side they can use it. I’m not English, I’m Australian. I am not going to talk to them about things I don’t understand. But we have staff who can do that and if we think it is appropriate, we will.’
Following back-to-back away victories over Scotland and Italy, the showdown with the Irish will be Jones’s Twickenham debut on behalf of England.
The dressing room and tunnel area at the stadium are awash with pictures and slogans designed to encourage a feeling of national identity and fervour within the players, but Stuart Lancaster’s emphasis on such off-field details is not shared by his successor.
‘There’s the dressing room and there’s the field,’ he said. ‘I’m worried about what happens on the field. The dressing room is 40 minutes before the game. That is such a small part of our preparation. It’s not insignificant, it’s important, but it’s not something I’ll be staying up at night worrying about.’
Jones claimed he would gauge the views of the players before deciding whether to retain another Lancaster innovation —walking off the team bus in the West Car Park and through crowds into the stadium. ‘It’s whatever the players want to do, it’s up to the players,’ he said.
Jones expressed mock indignation at being criticised for a lack of attacking flair thus far. ‘We’ve been together four weeks,’ he said. ‘There must be some magic dust out there — I need to buy some! Spray it out there and the whole side changes. We are a work in progress. The end destination is 2019 but that’s not to say we can’t be good enough to win tournaments and Test matches along the way.’
Any jibes about English pragmatism have been far outweighed by condemnation for Ireland’s onedimensional tactics under Joe Schmidt and Jones gladly added his voice, saying: ‘They kick 70 per cent of their ball away. If they want to do that, good luck to them. It has worked for them. It is not the way I think you should play rugby but it has been successful for them, so good luck.’
ENGLAND pair Billy and Mako Vunipola have signed new deals with Saracens through to 2019. Sarries rugby director Mark McCall said No 8 Billy, 23, and 25-year-old prop Mako had gone from raw talents to being ‘two of the world’s best’, and added: ‘This is fantastic news for everyone associated with the club.’