I told you it would be boring – now cracks are starting to appear
You cannot fault Eddie Jones in terms of results but has he really taken England forward?
Imust say, Eddie Jones has been unusually quiet in the build-up to today’s game. He has not had any sly digs at Michael Cheika or questioned the Wallabies’ mental strength. When he was over in Australia last summer, he and Glen Ella were definitely ripping into us a bit more. Eddie seemed far more bullish then.
Perhaps he is feeling the pressure a bit. Last week’s stodgy win against Argentina was understandable. England were always going to be a bit rusty after a long period without playing together. Although they toured Argentina in the summer, most of their star players were in New Zealand on Lions duty. So, that was the first time they had properly played together since March. But Eddie really lost his temper in that second half.
I thought it was a massive overreaction on his part and he should have been fined for it. I wrote that on Twitter and I stand by that. I do not understand how Eddie escaped censure from the Rugby Football Union or World Rugby. To me, it seemed a clear case of bringing our game into disrepute. We clobber players for doing similar. But here was a national coach on national television swearing and losing his rag. That is not on. Compare that with Warren Gatland’s face when Wales lost that nail biter against Australia. It did not change once.
I can only think it is because Eddie is winning games and the RFU does not want to rock the boat. If England had lost four or five games on the trot and then he did that, there might not have been quite the same lenience.
Perhaps Eddie should have fined himself and given £10,000 to Samoan rugby or something? Either way, I reckon it may have contributed to his quiet demeanour in the build-up to today’s game. There is a lot riding on it. I said when Eddie took over the England job two years ago that he would get you results, but that it would not necessarily be pretty.
Eddie has done well in terms of results. You cannot fault him.
He is a smart coach. But it is hardly flowing rugby. Has he taken England forward that much? Really? Tell me which players from this team you would put into England’s 2003 World Cupwinning team? Owen Farrell? Good player but he is a rugby league player. Maro Itoje looks pretty handy, I will give you that.
Much like two years ago when Eddie took over, the players are good but they are not that good. It is to Eddie’s credit that he has got them all to buy into his ethos and they are winning. But if England lose a couple on the trot, you might find the same cracks appearing. I think Eddie showed his true colours last weekend. It was a little glimpse of how he can get. Eddie is very much “my way or the highway”. He likes to be the commander in chief.
England have some good players, but I prefer a bit more spontaneity in my rugby. Eddie is a very structured coach.
Even at the Wallabies, it was more about defence than attack.
I like the fact Cheika has brought Kurtley Beale back. Beale’s time at Wasps worked for him, playing with Danny Cipriani and Willie le Roux: two real footballers. He has added sparkle to the Australia back line and that is what people want to see. Beale has also given the youngsters around him a real lift.
I would say Australia have got the upper hand purely because they have had more time together recently. They are unbeaten in their past seven games. Cheika is building things up again. That win against the All Blacks last month changed mindsets. There are a lot of young players in this Wallabies team. It is not like it was in my day when we used to have 60, 70, 100 caps per player. We have struggled a bit for leaders. But that win gave the group confidence.
I reckon the Wallabies would have lost that game against Wales this time last year. Whereas this time, they held on and finished the job. Most of all, I hope it is a good, exciting game against England and it is not ruined by the referee.
There will be 70,000 at Twickenham. I do not want to see the referee make a bad call, send someone to the bin for nothing. I am going to the game with Will Carling. I am sure we will have a lot of fun.