Eddie needs reminding of rugby’s core value: Respect
Respect, a word that is defined as due regard, consideration, thoughtfulness, attentiveness, politeness, courtesy, civility and deference when dealing with other people.This is one of the core values of the RFU and is probably the one that is most often referred to by the Union.
Whether when talking about a simple kick at goal or for something as serious as a referee’s match defining decision, respect is the word the RFU would like to think defines how they do their everyday business of the Union.
It is, however, very easy to show disrespect even without meaning to, as cultural differences can and often do lead to misunderstandings.That said, there are occasions when disrespect is deliberately used to inflame a situation or argument in an attempt to gain advantage.
Eddie Jones has chosen to be disrespectful to the Japan team in the warmup week to yesterday’s game, he said “Pray, pray, pray. Go to the temple and pray. Just pray, it’s the best thing. We’re going to be absolutely ruthless. We want to smash them mate, physically smash them, because I know they’re going to come full of confidence.”
His excuse was because Japan had the temerity to be confident in the build-up to the game, and believed they may even have a chance to win.
Every team I have ever played for or against believes they can win as they prepare for a game, it is a prerequisite in any form of competition. Why bother to travel half-way around the world if you know that you have no chance of winning and are going to be humiliated in front of millions of people?
It remains a fact there are not many giant-killing occasions in rugby and usually the team that is higher up the world rankings wins. That’s why I can say with certainty that one of the ten Tier 1 nations will win next year’s World Cup, but it is unlikely to be Argentina or Italy; in fact we could probably narrow it down to just four or five nations.
Japan is a Tier 2 nation who got lucky and beat South Africa while Jones was involved and I cannot believe for one moment that Jones spent his time saying, ‘Right lads you’ve got no chance of winning this game but what the heck, give it your best shot’.
He would have done exactly as he has with this novice England side and done his utmost to convince them they not only had a chance, but were in fact going to surprise everyone except themselves by winning. We all know Eddie likes a bit of theatre but this time his comments have shown a level of disrespect that surely must draw some response from the RFU.
Add to that, the idea of ‘smashing, physically smashing them’ is hardly the right image for the national team to portray, when for weeks and months we have been told that player welfare is at the heart of everything the RFU and Premiership does.
Attracting young players to the game relies on the fact that rugby is safe to play, so when young Johnny goes off to his local club mini and juniors, the last thing his parents want to hear is that the opposition plan to smash him physically.
As the shop window of the sport, the England team need to be physical, yes, but not on a mission to smash their opposition. Winning is enough and a bit of respect and humility should not be beyond a Tier 1 nation when facing a Tier 2.
This is only the second time that England have played Japan in a Test match – I sat on the bench the first time we played them in the inaugural 1987 World Cup. We won after a hard fought game by 60-7, a scoreline that flattered us, but the Japanese were nothing if not sociable as we enjoyed the post match function together.
Next year England are travelling to Japan as guests to compete in the World Cup. Who knows, however unlikely, we might end up facing them in the final.
A little respect now could go a long way to making next year’s World Cup reception a more pleasant experience for players and for travelling fans.
Well, what can I say? As if by magic, last week England lost out to a match-deciding call made by a TMO from South Africa, the country that in the previous week narrowly missed out on the chance of victory over England because the Irish TMO ruled against them.
Although I think the decision was the right call, as Courtney Lawes came round the side of the ruck rather than through ‘the gate’, the vast majority of the 82,000 crowd didn’t and jeered loudly. It was a shame, as the man of the match performance by Sam Underhill meant he deserved to be on the winning side, especially as he looked to have scored what would gone down as one of the best tries at Twickenham, certainly by a back row.
Sadly, it was not to be and England will rue the opportunities they failed to take by not electing to kick the points on offer.
Just at the time when all our thoughts were back on the England team and their World Cup preparations, the news that RFU CEO Stephen Brown has resigned from his post must be a concern for the whole game.
To lose the CEO this close to a World Cup will not help England’s prospect with the RFU’s focus now divided between finding a replacement CEO and making sure the team and their management have the best support going forward.
“Winning is enough and a bit of respect and humility should not be beyond a Tier 1 nation when facing a Tier 2”