England kicking strategy way game going, Jones says
LONDON: England’s kicking game helped it thrash a sorry France 448 in the Six Nations yesterday and coach Eddie Jones believes that strategy defines modern rugby.
‘‘We just think that’s the way the game is going. If teams defend as they do now, there’s space in the back field,’’ said Jones.
‘‘We have to get defenders back there and the only way we do that is to put the ball in that space.
‘‘If they don’t fill it we’ve got an opportunity with our pace to convert that into points and we’ve been able to do that.’’
England scored six tries and was already 308 up at halftime as only Damian Penaud touched down for Les Bleus.
‘‘It is just the brand of rugby we are trying to play. We want to put teams under pressure,’’ winger Jonny May, who scored three tries, said.
‘‘I am just doing my job. I know that is scoring tries but equally important is everyone else’s roles. Everyone is working hard and putting performances together.’’
It was a remarkable turnaround in just one year for England, which was beaten 2216 at the Stade de France last year.
France failed to score in the second half as the home side stayed disciplined and avoided being complacent.
‘‘You get points in front and the natural tendency is to get seduced by the scoreboard,’’ Jones said.
‘‘The game becomes a little bit loose. You start doing things you normally wouldn’t do. But we kept our discipline really well.’’
France had nothing to show for itself one week after throwing away a 160 halftime lead against Wales in a 2419 opening defeat.
‘‘England were much stronger than us. They put us under pressure an we could not deal with it,’’ coach Jacques Brunel admitted.
Lock Arthur Iturria struggled to be optimistic two weeks before France’s next game, at home against Scotland.
‘‘We got spanked,’’ he said. ‘‘They were stronger. We have to work hard to get to that level. We will stick together. Scotland will come to beat us, like everybody does now.’’ — Reuters