England coach offers a heavy doseofrealityinadmitting he has no world class players
EDDIE JONES’S reign may have got off to the perfect start with two Six Nations wins out of two but England’s no-nonsense Australian head coach says his current squad does not possess any worldclass players.
In a damning assessment of English rugby’s production line, Jones, who could be without Bath back Ollie Devoto for the visit of Ireland on Saturday after he went off with a suspected concussion in yesterday’s 24-18 defeat with Wasps, believes that even the imminent return of Manu Tuilagi leaves him without a single player who would make a World XV.
The Australian – who two weeks ago backed Billy Vunipola to become the ‘best No8 in the world’ after his barnstorming display against Scotland – watched Tuilagi play only his third game in 16 months on Friday night as Leicester lost to Harlequins in the Aviva Premiership.
After spending 15 weeks on the sidelines with a serious groin injury, Tuilagi damaged his hamstring three matches into his comeback before a strain delayed his return further, but he could be fasttracked back into the squad before England face Wales on March 12.
‘He’s not world class,’ Jones said when asked if Tuilagi was one of the few world-class players in England.
‘He has the potential to be, but I haven’t seen him picked in any World XV team. I think there are some good young players coming through who are going to break the mould of English rugby. With the right maturation process, some have potential to be really outstanding.’
Jones doesn’t believe there are any world-class performers currently eligible for England either.
‘Not at the moment, but we will have in four years,’ he replied emphatically.
England’s Under 20s have won two of the past three Under 20s World Championships but the RFU’s success at junior level has not been translated into the senior team with a solitary Six Nations title in the past 12 years for show for the world’s richest union.
With the memory of England’s World Cup pool stage exit still fresh and potential world beaters Alex Corbisiero, Tom Rees and Courtney Lawes having their careers stalled or ended by injuries, it is hard to argue with Jones’s brutal assessment
of his current crop.
‘Eddie knows more about the world game than the rest of us,’ said England tighthead prop Dan Cole.
‘You look on form I think there are arguments in certain positions but I would say there is no stand-out individuals in our team that would make a clear World XV.
‘But at the same time there is potential there and there are a lot of quality players in this team that can make the next step to the world-class level and be a very good side.’
Jones indicated this week he would speak to Richard Cockerill about Tuilagi’s possible readiness to feature against Wales at Twickenham after the Tigers director of rugby indicated he did not think his young charge would be ready for the international stage following such a lengthy lay-off.