Ed’s fear for slow starters

EDDIE JONEs started 2017 by putting the boot into his team by claiming England have not had a decent start to the six Nations for more than a decade.

Though England opened last year’s Grand slam with a scrappy win in scotland, Jones reckons they have been mostly slow out of the blocks and has urged them to come out firing this time when France pitch up at Twickenham on February 4.

The Aussie said: “The last England side to have played well in the first round of the competition was the 2006 one.

“England beat Wales 47-13 then – before that you go back to the great side of 2001 and 2002. In all the other opening games since, England have stumbled and got a close victory. We want to go out there and set a benchmark in the tournament from that first game.”

Jones is following a relentless schedule of watching club games to check the form of his players and reckons Owen Farrell (above) is still setting the standards with saracens.

He added: “It doesn’t matter what jersey he’s got on. He could be playing in the back yard against his sister and he’d play the same. That’s the sort of player we want.

“some players are playing in struggling teams so it’s been harder for them. But Courtney Lawes has gone back and played superbly well, continuing his good work. The same applies to Tom Wood and Teimana Harrison.”