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Eddie Jones' latest take on England's failure: 'There is five million situations in the game, we don't coach five million situations'

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Eddie Jones has tried to sidestep the lingering caustic fallout from last Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations home loss to Scotland, insisting the only thing England are now focused is next Saturday’s round two game versus Italy. England’s performance has been shredded in the aftermath of the shock 11-6 setback against the Scots, who hadn’t won at Twickenham since 1983.

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However, rather than add fuel to the raging fire, Jones tried not to dwell any further on the damning post-mortem. Asked, for instance, if he had any thoughts on why skipper Owen Farrell chose to kick so much rather than pass to his colleagues outside him, England boss Jones said: “There is five million situations in the game, we don’t coach five million situations.

“We are always looking to improve our game and we were disappointed we didn’t improve our game. Once we get on the field the players make all the decisions. It has always been the case but the responsibility to prepare them for the game is the head coach and therefore I didn’t give them the right information for the game. Nothing different to what we spoke about after the game.

Video Spacer

Jamie George reacts to England’s loss to Italy

Video Spacer

Jamie George reacts to England’s loss to Italy

“We are always looking to improve. As I said, I take responsibility for the performance. Sometimes you don’t give the players the right information and we didn’t play the way we wanted to do. That’s about it, we’re onto the Italian game now.

“We just felt we held back a little bit. We weren’t our usual, vibrant selves, and we are just really focusing on making sure that we focus on ourselves this week and get playing the sort of rugby that we like to play, which is getting on the front foot and keeping the opposition on the back foot.

“We’re just disappointed we didn’t improve from the French game (in December), but that is the way it is. We have moved on, we are preparing for the Italian game now… the only thing we are worrying about is the Italian game, that is the only thing we can worry about so we are focusing on that very strongly.”

Jones has made two changes to his 28-man squad, Kyle Sinckler and Mako Vunipola coming into the group after respective suspension and injury issues. Their inclusion comes at the expense of Harry Williams, who played off the bench last Saturday, and the uncapped Tom West. They have both returned to their clubs.

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“They are both exceptional players,” said Jones about Sinckler and Vunipola. “Mako is the elder statesman of the side, experienced player. And Sinks was dynamic for us during the autumn. It’s good to have those two guys back but it was a great experience for Ellis (Genge) and Will (Stuart) who started on the weekend and have both benefitted from that experience.

“He [Vunipola] has been training really well, got a lot of conditioning in, and we feel he is going to be available for selection.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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