Woodward says Jones’s Japan work makes English rugby look ridiculous
SIR Clive Woodward claims Eddie Jones working with All Blacks star Beauden Barrett as part of his consultancy role with Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath makes English rugby look “ridiculous”.
Jones has an association with the Tokyo-based team spanning more than two decades and continues to offer guidance to their coaches and players, including two-time world player of the year Barrett.
It is Barrett’s debut season in the Top League and while he has praised Jones’s input, the Australian’s presence in Japan is controversial as it comes in the wake of England’s fifth-place finish in the Six Nations.
Many are unhappy Jones has “a second job”, even helping rival players, at a time when England have failed so dismally.
Sir Clive said of the situation in his Daily Mail column: “This makes English rugby look ridiculous and makes you question once again what exactly is going on.
“As head coach you demand 100 per cent commitment from your players and you must give it back in return.
“In anyone’s language it is a really bad look. The England coach in Japan coaching and advising with Suntory and Beauden Barrett just weeks after a miserably poor Six Nations campaign.
“It says so much about the muddy thinking at the RFU. Does the CEO Bill Sweeney not see how that is neither acceptable nor wise? Is there nobody at Twickenham with the rugby experience, nous or bottle to tell Jones in some very simple language that the England rugby coach must commit himself solely to that job?”
Barrett had said of Jones: “Eddie has had a little bit to do with Suntory rugby and he’s been so good for me with my dealings with him.
“When he does have something to tell me, they are like little pieces of gold. His understanding of the game is exceptional. He’s been involved a fair bit, certainly at the start of the season.
“He’s over here at the moment, actually. He’s more in the background and dealing with the coaches a lot, but when he does offer advice to the players, it’s certainly good advice.
“It’s good to get that from someone who isn’t there on a daily basis. He’s on the outside looking in and gives good information.”
Jones is using annual leave for his trip to Japan and the RFU has sanctioned his work for Suntory.
“Eddie has had a consultancy agreement with Suntory for over 20 years. We have been aware and comfortable with that since he joined the RFU,” an RFU statement read.
“He provides consultancy in his holidays and this role is in no way a conflict with his England team priorities.”
Meanwhile, England and Wasps lock Joe Launchbury is out of contention for the Lions’ South Africa tour after suffering a serious knee injury.
Wasps say their captain sustained “a complete rupture” of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership victory over Bath.
The normal recovery period for such an injury is between six and nine months.
Launchbury, who has won 69 caps, missed England’s Guinness Six Nations campaign this season because of a broken leg.
Lions head coach Warren Gatland is due to name his squad next week for this summer’s tour, and 30-year-old Launchbury would undoubtedly have been part of the second-row discussions.