Jones begins mind games
– England coach Eddie Jones (above) tried to get an early blow in against Scotland by questioning whether they could back up “their big talk” in next month’s Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham.
Jones’ men remained on course for a second successive Grand Slam with a 36-15 win over Italy at Twickenham on Sunday, after eventually overcoming the Azzurri’s spoiling tactics of refusing to commit to rucks.
Victory in the Calcutta Cup clash on March 11 would see Six Nations leaders England equal world champions New Zealand’s all-time record of 18 successive wins by a leading rugby nation.
Scotland, however, are on a roll after beating Wales 29-13 at Murrayfield on Saturday and they have now won two out of their three Six Nations matches this season.
For all the frustration he felt with Italy’s approach on Sunday, Jones – yet to lose a match as England coach after he was appointed following the team’s first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup – was happy with his side’s position.
“If you said where we wanted to be at the end of three rounds (of the Six Nations), we’re exactly there.”
England, 10-5 down at halftime against Italy, scored five of their six tries in the match after the break and Jones said: “Six tries, three wins, a bonus point. Mate, we’re flying.”
Coach Conor O’Shea praised assistant coach Brendan Venter, the former Springbok who laid the foundations for the success of English and European champions Saracens, for the tactical plan which so annoyed England.
Sergio Parisse, Italy’s captain, insisted the Azzurri had done nothing wrong in standing off rucks and trying to block the line of a pass from England scrumhalf Danny Care to flyhalf George Ford.
“We just followed the rules,” said Parisse. –
Twickenham
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