STEADY EDDIE Focus on France & not Lions tour begs Jones
JO’S SET PEACE
GARY FITZGERALD you on the street they come up to you and say that you must be fascinated about the game against Ireland because they’re going well.
“Well, Ireland isn’t a concern for us, but if you keep on hearing that then that can get into the back of your head and become a distraction.
“So we’ve got a lot of distractions in front of us and a big part of the job as coaches, management and senior players is to make sure that we get the focus right – that’s beating France.
“Our aim is to win the Six Nations. We’re not trying to hide that but to do that we’ll have to prepare for each game very well.”
Jones, whose side kick-off the Six Nations at home to France on February 4, admits he has been surprised by the ill feeling towards England from the other Northern Hemisphere teams since he took charge.
He said: “There’s a fair bit of hatred towards England, isn’t there? And you feel that. I’m an Australian so I didn’t realise how intense it was but it adds to the tournament.
“I don’t see that as being a negative, I see that being a very positive part of the tournament. That’s what gives it the allure of this intense rivalry, these countries that live next to each other. It’s small brother versus big brother.” Jones expects Hartley will rediscover his fitness in time to lead the side against France. Centre Owen Farrell is standing by to take over the reins if Hartley fails to impress in training in the Algarve having not played during his long ban for a forearm smash on Leinster’s Sean O’Brien. Jones has had to rejig his Six Nations plans following the blows of losing Billy and Mako Vunipola and Chris Robshaw from his pack, plus centre Manu Tuilagi. England’s rash of injuries forced Jones to include uncapped f l anker Mike Williams, prop Nathan Catt and back Alex Lozowski in his 34-man squad. But at least he has been boosted by the return of forwards James Haskell, Maro Itojo, Joe Launchbury and Jack Clifford, plus wings Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson. Leicester’s loosehead Ellis Genge, 21, is expected to step in to fill the No.1 jersey against France with Harlequins’ Joe Marler set to miss the start of the tournament with a broken leg. ENGLAND SIX NATIONS FIXTURES February 4: France (H) February 11: Wales (A) February 26: Italy (H) March 11: Scotland (H) March 18: Ireland (A) BRITAIN’S Johanna Konta powered into the fourth round at the Australian Open yesterday after seeing off former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 6-1.
The ninth seed (left) is yet to drop a set in the tournament and will face Ekaterina Makarova next as she continues her quest to give Britain its first women’s grand slam singles champion in four decades.
Konta said: “Someone like Caroline, she’s not going to give it to you. You really do have to earn it and win it till the last point.
“I’m just very happy I was able to keep that pressure on. I’m very pleased with how I’ve been able to problem-solve in the last matches I’ve played.”
Konta ramped up her powerful first serve and returned deep to keep 17th seed Wozniacki on the back foot. She blasted 31 winners to her Danish opponent’s six.
Next up is 30th seed Makarova, who Konta beat in the fourth round last year.
While the Aussie-born Brit was unwilling to talk of the prospect of playing six-time champion Serena Williams in the quarter-finals, Wozniacki was not so coy.
She said: “I think Johanna is playing on a very high level right now. If she keeps playing like this then she has good chance against Serena.”
BRENDAN KEANE