Jones is on guard over squad strife
EDDIE JONES has admitted England are braced for more disciplinary trouble at the World Cup, after ditching two players who were involved in a fight on a recent social outing in Italy.
Ben Te’o had been regarded as a selection shoo-in but the Lions centre was omitted from the 31-man tournament squad named yesterday, as was Mike Brown — although the Harlequins full-back had fallen down the pecking order.
The pair were reportedly involved in a confrontation during the ‘heat camp’ in Treviso earlier this month.
After announcing his group to go to Japan on September 8 for the global showpiece, Jones conceded that England are resigned to facing more off-field problems in the Far East. At the last overseas World Cup in 2011, Martin Johnson’s squad were embroiled in a
series of controversies. Asked if he expected it to be smoother this time, the head coach said: ‘I’ve coached for 25 years. I’ve never been confident in a team being smooth.
‘We’re like any family. Everyone sits around the dining table, everyone enjoys good conversation but you know there are problems and we’re exactly the same.
‘We’ve got 31 sitting around the table. We can have nice conversations, but you know potentially there’s a problem.
‘All I can do is trust the players. They are adults, they’re responsible, they want to play for England, but we could have some problems. If we do, we’ll deal with them. Every team has problems.’
Many national teams have an emphasis on senior players taking charge of many internal disciplinary matters and Jones claimed it would be no different within the England squad — although management may intervene if they consider it necessary.
‘It’s always a fluid situation,’ he said. ‘When us older guys played, the senior players ran the team. Nothing’s ever changed. The senior players run the team, but, sometimes, the coach has got to come in and tell them to pull their socks up — or pick up the bottles.
‘It seems like there’s this new phenomenon called a leadership group.
‘Ever since I’ve been involved with rugby, there have always been guys leading the team.
‘That’s the nature of rugby and nothing’s changed.’
England captain Owen Farrell, whose appointment was a very ‘straightforward decision’ according to Jones, will be expected to set the tone for standards of behaviour within the England squad.
Jones added: ‘We want to police ourselves as much as we can. Being part of that means making sure that we’re being good lads and I think we have a good group.’
Meanwhile, George Ford is ready to answer the call if injury strikes down one of England’s two scrum-halves in Japan.
The 26-year-old fly-half has never played a minute of Test rugby at scrum-half, but will provide cover to Ben Youngs and Willi Heinz.
Ford revealed: ‘I’ll be confident to play there if needed.
‘Under Eddie’s regime I have trained there quite a bit, to be honest.
‘There have been fallow weeks in the Six Nations where I have spent every session there.
‘Based on the training I have done, I have really enjoyed it. You are right in the thick of it and have to be very fit to keep up with play.
‘Kicking, passing — it is pretty similar to No10.
‘Within this environment, we try to respond well to any situation.
‘Eddie does not tell me when he wants me to train there beforehand. It is up to me to adapt when presented with it.’