JONES HITS BACK
Coach defiant after rugby chiefs say Wales were robbed
EDDIE JONES last night questioned World Rugby’s decision to declare that Wales should have been awarded a try at Twickenham on Saturday.
The controversial aftermath of the NatWest 6 Nations encounter, which England won 12-6, took a dramatic twist when the global governing body said their Television Match Official, Glenn Newman of New Zealand, had been wrong to rule that Gareth Anscombe had not touched down fairly.
A World Rugby spokesman said: ‘World Rugby had clarified to the Wales team management as part of the usual review process with teams that the TMO made an error in the application of law. Wales should have been awarded a try as the Wales player grounded the ball.’
However, last night Jones queried the governing body’s conduct in openly undermining their officials’ judgment, just as they had at the last World Cup in announcing that South African referee Craig Joubert had mis-handled the culmination of Scotland’s quarter-final against Australia.
‘Well, they’ve done it before,’ said England’s head coach. ‘Once the game is done and dusted, you can’t have retrospective refereeing or umpiring of decisions. We’ve got to trust the referees — respect their integrity. When I say respect the referee, that’s the TV process as well. The TMOs do an excellent job. They make a decision, then you leave it at that, and you get on with it.
‘One side’s won, one side’s lost. That’s one of the traditions of rugby — you respect that decision. If you haven’t got the rub of the green then you know you’ll probably get it in the next couple of games.’
England trained with Georgia in west London yesterday and their forwards had to withstand huge pressure in a series of full-intensity scrum engagements. They struggled at first before gradually turning the tables.
Jones revealed that Exeter No 8 Sam Simmonds is likely to miss the next two matches and that Elliot Daly has suffered a new calf injury. Owen Farrell and Anthony Watson are set to miss training this week with minor leg problems but both are expected to be fit to face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday week.