ED ON THE BLOCK

Jones admits fans should be worried as England go from bad to worse after 6th straight defeat

EDDIE JONES has been told his job is safe despite England’s shocking implosion – and his admission that he is doing as good a job as he can.

A sixth straight defeat gave South Africa the series with a game to spare and extended England’s worst run since they lost seven straight in 2007.

Indisciplined on the pitch, they were no better off it with Ben Youngs walking out of a post-match interview and Joe Marler swearing at an angry England fan.

Yet the response of the Rugby Football Union, whose top brass were nowhere to be seen, was simply to take it on the chin.

“The RFU supports Eddie Jones and his coaching team,” said a spokeswoman, adding there are no plans to reconsider his contract.

This from a union which the season insisting there was “no excuse” for England not to be the world’s most dominant rugby nation.

Except, presumably, for the “you have to remember we are missing 25 players from this tour” – one offered up by Jones on Saturday night.

England, with their bold ambition, can today drop as low as sixth in the world rankings – and even

Jones admits their fans should be “very concerned”.

They look to be getting worse, yet the boss maintains they are only “two to three per cent” from the promised land and that he is still the man for the job.

Jones said:

“If I wasn’t doing my role as well as I could I would have a loss of confidence.

“My job is to make the team win and it is not winning.

“But I have also got a job to do which is the process of coaching and I’m doing that as well as I can.”

Asked if then he needed to change the manner in which he delivers his message, he replied: “I don’t think so at all.” Jones has been outcoached by rookie counterpart Rassie Erasmus, whose selection issues, influenced as much by politics as fitness, dwarf those of England. It was Jones who allowed England to come on tour with a defence coach who had accepted another job; Jones who took the decistarted sion to base the team at sea level when the first two Tests were at altitude.

“He continues to insist altitude was not a factor, even though England scored 36 points to South Africa’s three in the first 20 minutes of the two games – and 15 to their 62 thereafter.

Indeed, Duane Vermeulen’s first utterance after his man-ofthe-match display was that he was “knackered” – having forgotten how tough it is playing at altitude.

As if England don’t have enough problems they have again lost their talisman Billy Vunipola to serious injury, having re-fractured his arm.

Gone too is Billy’s brother Mako, to attend the birth of his child. South Africa - Tries: Vermeulen, penalty. Con: Pollard Pens: Pollard 3.

England - Tries: Brown, May. Con: Farrell.