Does Eddie face a fight to stay in the hotseat?

THE pressure is mounting on Eddie Jones after defeat by Wales, but does he face a fight for his job? Our experts give their view on the future of the England head coach.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD

IT’S NOT as simple as that and I am not in the business of getting people fired. I’m not overly bothered with the results of the next two games — this Six Nations has gone for England. What I want to see is clear evidence of a team selected on form, with a gameplan based on out-and-out tempo which we did see in short spells on Saturday. I want to see a smarter, cuter approach and I want to see a more humble Eddie Jones and the exciting innovative coach we saw with Japan and Brumbies to the fore.

CHRIS FOY

IF ENGLAND lose their next two games — at home to France and away to Ireland — it would be the first time they have suffered four defeats in a Six Nations campaign and Eddie Jones would be under mounting pressure. But that is a big ‘if’. The head coach has won enough titles and trophies to be given breathing space by the RFU. This is not a crisis, not yet, but fresh impetus is needed. Ideally, Jones should be more swayed by club form and less blindly loyal to a core of his squad. Free thinkers should be welcomed, not viewed with suspicion.

WILL KELLEHER

IT WOULD be enormously surprising if England were to sack Eddie Jones after the Six Nations. Firstly, they can hardly afford to bin the most well-paid national coach after a year of crippling losses at the RFU. Secondly, Jones has a history of turning things around. In 2018, England came fifth in the tournament and made the World Cup final the next year. His win percentage is second only to Sir Clive Woodward’s — but he needs to refresh a team that haven’t kicked on from 2019.

NIK SIMON

ENGLAND simply can’t afford to sack Eddie Jones. Finances have been squeezed by Covid-19 and the RFU would be landed with a huge bill if they terminated the remaining two years of his contract. It would come as little surprise if a new voice joins the coaching team as an assistant before the World Cup, but there is no super coach waiting in the wings to replace Jones.