Jones stays: Eddie calls for steady as she goes approach
Eddie Jones has urged England to “have some faith” in his ability to lead the team to a successful Rugby World Cup next year despite presiding over another failed Six Nations campaign.
The Australian has survived an inquest into England finishing fifth in the 2021 Six Nations, when the team lost three of its five games.
The English also lost three times in this year’s championship, the last defeat coming last weekend to France, who won the title and Grand Slam — and were third.
On Monday, the Rugby Football Union said it was “encouraged by the solid progress” the team had made during the Six Nations as Jones builds a new team ahead of the 2023 World Cup in France.
And Jones has called for supporters to show patience as he continues his pivot towards younger players such as Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward and Harry Randall.
“They’ve got to have some faith. I think I’ve done a reasonable job for England for the past seven years,” said Jones, who led England to the World Cup final in 2019.
“Am I pleased with the job I’m doing? I’m not pleased with the results. Do I think I’m coaching well? One hundred per cent. I think I’m coaching well and sometimes you don’t get the results. I’ve coached for long enough to know this is all about rebuilding a team. Rebuilding a team at international level is a complex and intriguing project, particularly when you’re coaching a team like England, where the expectation is so high.”
Jones said his young players were playing inconsistently while they “learn their craft at international level”.
“Look at the French team, it took them three years to win the championship. We’ve rebuilt the side from the last Six Nations. I think the progress is very positive and I couldn’t be more excited about the prospects for this team.
“The results aren’t the results we’d like — we’d all like to be winning tournaments and be at the top of the table, but we’re not quite good enough to do that now. But within the next 12 to 14 months, when we prepare for the World Cup, we will be.”
The RFU remained confident Jones is the right man for the job.
“The RFU continues to fully support Eddie, the coaching team and players,” the governing body said. “And we are excited about the summer tour and the progress to rebuild a winning England team.”
Jones will again meet with the RFU’s unnamed “advisory panel” to analyse the Six Nations but his future is assured.