BORED TO CHEERS
Jones warns the final against France will be another defensive, kick-fest TV turn-off but insists union is NOT in crisis
EDDIE JONES warns that England’s Autumn Nations Cup final against France is almost certain to be another TV turn-off – but he refutes claims rugby union is in crisis.
Amazon’s first entry into the international rugby union market has coincided with the drabbest autumn Test window in recent memory.
Sir Clive Woodward has blasted it as unwatchable, de spa i r i ng at pre - programmed robots kicking endlessly.
“That sort of talk is massively alarmist and quite silly,” said Jones. ones.
“Th e game ame evolves and changes and nd we see it evolve and d change all the time.
“I t ’ s certainly a tough, physical hysical game – a real al game for the purists sts – at the moment. .
“It reminds ds me of the 2007 World Cup where defences nces were pretty dominant nant and kicking was one of the major ways to get ahead in the game. We go through these periods in the th game and the next cycle is always an attacking one, so let’s enjoy the defensiv defensive cycle we have at the m moment and look forward to the attacking cycle when w it comes.”
As a spec spectacl e, though, it has ha been hard to enjoy. enjoy Aside from the superb individual individua tries f r om England’s En Jonny Jon May ( left) le and Georgia’s Ge Giorgi G Kvesel K l a d z e against Ireland, there has been little memorable rugby in the tournament.
Jones insists cautious coaches and brainwashed players are not to blame for the lack of flair.
Instead, he puts the stodge down to the new breakdown interpretations, which favour the defending side rather than the attackers.
“It’s always dependent on the laws,” said Jones.
“When we get quick ball, we’re able to play with some space and some time, but, unless we are able to get quick ball, it’s very difficult to play with any fluency.”
With England wedded to
their zero- risk rugby and France sending a second team to Twickenham, it is most unlikely to be a final to set the pulses racing.
But the beaten World Cup f inalists will content themselves with the fact that, regardless of the entertainment on offer, they could have a trophy to show for their labours.
“We’ve had one unsuccessful final in the last 13 months, so we’ve learnt from that and we’d like to put our learnings into practice this week,” said Jones.
“We don’t care who they put out there. All we can do is play to our best.”