Ed refuses to change ways
Proteas skipper punishes rusty world champs
EDDIE JONES has ignored his critics by ramping up the psychological pressure ahead of England’s Six Nations clash with Scotland on Saturday.
The Red Rose coach has been accused of getting the mind games wrong.
Sir Clive Woodward blasted Jones for making England look stupid with his pre-match threats of “brutality” before the 24-17 defeat to France on Sunday.
And while others have called for Jones’ head, he refused to change his ways yesterday, calling the Scots “Niggly”.
Referring to a bust-up in the tunnel two years ago, he warned his players not to react to provocation.
The incident was triggered when Owen Farrell ran to George Ford’s aid and sparked a mass confrontation in the tunnel.
“They’re a niggly side, aren’t they?” said Jones.
“There was the dressing room scene two years ago when they tried to goad a couple of players and they were successful. Historically they’ve done that through the ages.
“That’s the way they stay in the game and they’re good at it.”
Opposing prop Allan Dell accused the Aussie of undermining his own team before the defeat in Paris.
Dell, calling Jones rugby’s Jose Mourinho, said of his pre-match rant: “I don’t think he did his players much justice, throwing them out to that.”
England will be without injured centre Manu Tuilagi at Murrayfield.
I’VE TON IT! South Africa ace Quinton de Kock celebrates his century
EOIN MORGAN offered “no excuses” after his world champs’ dismal performance in their first One Day International since their glorious triumph at Lord’s last summer.
But the England captain insisted he will resist the temptation to make wholesale changes for Durban as they attempt to square the three-match series.
“We were way off the mark. We’ve got no excuses, we didn’t adapt to the conditions in front of us and South Africa outplayed us in all three departments,” said Morgan as they crashed by seven wickets to a home side inspired by century-making captain Quinton de Kock.
“Every batsman apart from Joe Denly and Chris Woakes struggled to get going. We lacked the adaptation and skill level which was needed.”
England, who were missing six of their big guns from the World Cup win, gave ODI debuts to Tom Banton and spinner Matt Parkinson.
And Morgan looks set to give them another spin on Friday in the second game.
“This series is about giving guys experience and giving them an opportunity,” he said. “We need to give guys time to stake their claim. We want to use winning the World Cup to build recognisable contenders.
“The new boys will learn a lot – the guys making their debut will have got a taste of international cricket. We need to continue to learn, as we did in the past. Ultimately today we were outplayed because we were off the mark.”
In Cape Town, England looked rusty and jaded. After being put in by De Kock they laboured to a below-par 258-8, with only Denley (87) and Woakes (40) showing any real resistance.
Without big hitters Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler and having to do without the express pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood rested, plus the guile of spinner Adil Rashid, England were a shadow of the side that won the ultimate one day prize.
But those who did play lacked the combative instinct necessary.
On a pitch which looked two paced all the England batsmen struggled. Denly’s 103-ball effort was not exactly electric but vital with wickets falling at the other end.
Morgan had talked beforehand about setting new goals as they prepare for the World T20 in Australia in October, yet there was little visible progress here.
Of the new caps, Banton played a couple of nice shots before getting out, while Parkinson struggled initially against the well-set De Kock and Temba Bavuma before coming back stronger late in the day.
Yet it was that pair’s partnership of 173 – a record for the second wicket against England and here at Newlands – which proved the difference.