EDDIE JONES ON...

...Danny Cipriani

He has got nice talents. He shows that all the time – but can he translate that to being in a squad at Test level? The thing that separates good club players from international players is their ability to adjust quickly.

Their ability to understand what is needed at the next level, what is needed in that team. I think Danny has the ability to do that, and we are going to give him the opportunity – whether it is starting a Test, coming off the bench, or shining boots – we don’t know.

...how Cipriani has changed since 2016

Whenever he got the ball he ran East-West (sideways). Now he is a bit more North-South, so he is worth having a look at.

...can Cipriani be his World Cup fly-half?

Just make sure you tell him to drive his car North-South. When you want to get to the try-line you have to go straight... and tell him to leave his dinner suit at home. You can’t play rugby in a dinner suit. ...George Ford’s form I thought his last game (for Leicester) was his best game. I remember seeing him as a 17 yearold at Leicester when he just played the game. Unfortunately in certain teams they want the 10 to play as part of the system and that takes away his instinctiveness. I know he is a good player but he needs to be instinctive so when we get him back in the camp, our job is to make sure we open up that instinctiveness for him. ...on fixing England’s breakdown We have no doubt that the game is only going to get faster and more athletic. You watch domestic rugby here and halfbacks slow the ball down all the time. So we’ve got to change that behaviour – it’s not a skill-set, it’s changing the behaviour. ...on why England were exposed at the breakdown during the Six Nations The 7 has a distinct responsibility at the first breakdown. Your 7 has to ensure that you get quick ball or the opposition gets slow ball. We did not have Underhill and still don’t. We did not have Curry – and you need specialist 7s. ...on openside specialists I don’t think it’s a coachable skill in a lot of ways. It’s a skill you have to develop through the game. Whenever I’ve seen good 7s they’re basically natural players. Curry and Underhill can do it.