"I want to win 3-0" - near 'nutcase' Jones demands Bok destruction

Eddie Jones has rediscovered his mojo and is claiming that despite a disastrous Six Nations and appearing to be a “shambles”, England can make history with a 3-0 test series win in South Africa and also lift the World Cup in Japan next year.

Jones is famous for his ability to play mind games but not even the most fervent England supporter will be convinced that a second from bottom finish in the Six Nations as defending champions is the perfect preparation for a first test series triumph against the Springboks let alone repeating the World Cup-winning heroics of 2003.

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Not even the possibility of defence coach Paul Gustard being offered the role of head coach at Harlequins – a decision on who will replace John Kingston is expected on Monday – is phasing Jones who said: “If I dealt in rumours I’d see shadows in the corner of every room. I’d be a nutcase and I’m close enough to that as it is, so I don’t want to get any closer.”

England will be without more than 20 players who are either injured or being rested for the tour and Jones is relishing the challenge of proving everyone wrong. The flak he copped after the Six Nations has not affected his bullish nature and as he prepares England to face the Barbarians on May 27 at Twickenham before flying to South Africa he said: “We are missing 22 top players so everyone’s saying we can’t win, we’re in disarray, we’re a shambles. That suits the English underdog mentality. We’re going to go over there and rip in.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to win the World Cup. The bare minimum is to play well. I want to win 3-0. No English side has ever won a series in South Africa so it’s a great opportunity for us.

“We’re in a great position because we’ve got absolute clarity about what we have got to do to win the World Cup. We got great feedback from Scotland, Ireland and France that we’re not good enough. We’ve gone away, licked our wounds and worked out a strategy going forward. The players are becoming more embroiled in that strategy as we have more time with them.

“There’s a lot of criticism of the Premiership and the pathway in England, about how many good players are being produced and the depth of talent we have. That’s an exciting opportunity for us in South Africa.”

But what happens to England’s coaching set up if Gustard is the man Quins want to revive their cause? “I don’t have a contingency plan for staff, I don’t have one for every staff member. If a situation arises then I’ll deal with it,” said Jones. “I don’t know anything to the contrary [Gustard travelling to South Africa]. I don’t deal in rumours. No I haven’t spoken to Paul, why would I? I don’t know mate, I don’t deal in rumours.”