England fail to live up to blockbuster hype

ENGLAND’S second successive Six Nations defeat is making a mockery of the RFU’s promotion of November’s clash against the All Blacks.

The match was described as a ‘blockbuster’ at the last RFU council meeting and lined up for record seat prices of £195 and hospitality packages of £1,345. The RFU draft strategy read: ‘Position the 2018 All Blacks fixture as a “blockbuster” game that is priced as a premium to A-plus fixture.’

The showdown was supposed to be between the best two sides in the world yet Ireland will jump above England into second place in the rankings after the Six Nations, which does nothing for the ‘blockbuster’ sell. Nor does being dismantled by Scotland and France in the space of a fortnight.

RFU chief executive Steve Brown’s predecessor Ian Ritchie famously called finishing second in three successive seasons in the Six Nations ‘unacceptable’. Now Brown could be asked how the ruling body regards a position of second last in the table when quizzed by the media after the tournament. That is the doomsday scenario if results do not go England’s way on Saturday. The RFU also have to face up to organising a championship presentation to Ireland after their game against England at Twickenham.

AUSTRALIAN Eddie Jones is not a man who would put conforming to a dress code high on his priorities. But, after upsetting some of the Scottish blazers by turning up to the official function after the game at Murrayfield in an open neck shirt and jumper, England’s head coach (right) was noticeably dressed in a jacket and tie for the French dinner.

ONLY the French could organise the signing of their 2023 Rugby World Cup contract with much ballyhoo at the Stade de France during the game between Ireland and Scotland. Most people in the room would have preferred to be watching on television rather than sitting around waiting for the French prime minister to turn up. But you would never see avuncular World Rugby president Bill Beaumont make a fuss.