EDDIE’S
EDDIE JONES watched England make it a hattrick of Six Nations flops – then warned some players might not make the World Cup.
Jones’ mob went down 2415 to a rampant Irish who won the third Grand Slam in their history and the England boss was booed by punters at the end.
And France nicking a bonus point in Cardiff condemned England to fifth spot – their worst finish since 1983.
It capped off a shocking week for Aussie Jones who was embroiled in ‘Scumgate’ a few days ago for remarks he made about the Irish.
Struggle
This was the first time England have lost three on the spin in the Six Nations since 2006 and their first defeat at Twickenham since the last World Cup.
It was a far cry from the triumphant run of 23 wins in 24 games which included two Six Nations titles and a clean sweep over the Wallabies Down Under.
But the Aussie reckons that run of success gave fans false hope because it came after he had used his Midas touch to pull off a quick fix and he could wield the axe.
Jones said: “Some guys have come in and done really well and some maybe will struggle to participate in the future. We have to get a greater depth to our squad that can play Test rugby.
Quickly
“There are guys who are starting their international careers and they need time. I have to decide whether I have got time to get them ready for the World Cup.
“We weren’t happy being the team we were because we knew whatever we had won we weren’t good enough to get to where we wanted to get.
“When you take over, like I did England, it is quite easy to improve them quickly because you get to fix certain things that need fixing quickly.
“But internal mechanisms take time to fix and that is the slow burner. Unless you fix them they catch up with you when you get to the big tournaments such as the World Cup.” Cheltenham week and St Patrick’s Day – it was written in the stars that Ireland would win.
And it never looked in doubt. But yet again England did not help themselves.
They conceded 11 penalties, an improvement on the France game, but there were some dumb ones and some given away in good positions. And the more they got them- selves on the wrong side of Aussie ref Angus Gardner the more they got pinged.
Human
Any 50-50 decisions were going to go the men in green. Gardner is only human.
England could point to two decisions for Irish tries that went against them and Bundee Aki escaping a card for a shoulder charge but that would be whitewash. They were out with the washing for most of the game.
And when Ireland got a bit of luck they rode it and made England pay.
Jones’ ( right) new- look midfield with Ben Te’o at 12 and Jonathan Joseph outside him hardly landed a punch and England only looked dan-