Fanning the flames will only stoke up Dragons
Eddie Jones was in combative form as he launched a twin-pronged attack on Rhys Patchell and Alun Wyn Jones, but i really don’t think it was needed and comments like this can backfire.
i’m all for a bit of knockabout stuff with the media before a game but you need to pick your moment and your game — and i don’t think this is it.
Wyn Jones is held in universal high regard and that includes all england’s Lions and their forwards coach steve Borthwick. Patchell is an exciting young talent who hasn’t gone around shouting his mouth off.
Rugby prides itself on respect for referees but it equally prides itself on respect for the opposition, which eddie seems to have forgotten.
i can’t imagine england’s big hitters — dylan Hartley, Mako Vunipola, Maro itoje, Courtney Lawes, owen Farrell, Anthony Watson and Chris Robshaw — will be too enamoured with these comments on the eve of a match where all the pressure is on england. Their jobs just got considerably more difficult.
This match has been cooking nicely, it didn’t need heating up any more and anybody who knows the history of this fixture will know this fanning of the flames can only help Wales.
i had england down as strong favourites before this but eddie’s comments can only make the game more volatile and unpredictable. Warren Gatland and shaun edwards will love this. it was the moment for eddie to take the high ground, be statesmanlike. it was not the moment for a rant.
When you come out with stuff like this, it ups the ante hugely. i used to love these sort of comments from the opposition coach. if there was nothing flying around, i’d just make one up! But win and these comments will be quickly forgotten, at least until next year when england play in Wales. Lose and they could come back to haunt eddie.
A word on england’s danny Care. He might be 31 and about to become their most capped scrum-half but, in many ways, tomorrow’s game against Wales is his big chance.
Care has made 77 england appearances but 43 have been off the bench. of his last 27 caps, 20 have been as a replacement.
He made his debut ten years ago but, apart from one season under Martin Johnson, has never been able to make the no 9 shirt his own.
nobody likes to profit from the misfortune of others but there is no doubt that Ben Youngs’ serious knee injury has opened the door for Care.
i’m not surprised eddie has gone for the experienced Richard Wigglesworth as the back-up scrum-half.
i keep reading that he is the best box-kicker in the game but i don’t think england are going to beat Wales on the strength of their reserve scrum-half’s box-kicking.