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'He has at times targeted various players in our team... we're going to have to deal with him'

(Photo by Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)

Eddie Jones has his sights set on curbing the influence of veteran skipper Alun Wyn Jones as England head to Cardiff looking to put an end to the dreams in Wales of a 2021 Six Nations Grand Slam title. The 35-year-old Jones has only been a winner on nine occasions in his 22 games against the English, but the 145-cap second row was central to what unfolded two years ago at the Principality Stadium when the countries met in round three of the championship. 

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A come-from-behind win for Wales catapulted them further along the track to a Grand Slam they were to clinch some weeks later in what was Warren Gatland’s final year in charge, and England boss Jones is on red alert to try and ensure his namesake in the Welsh pack doesn’t wield as much influence this time around.  

Asked about the proposition posed by the lock who has been doing the rounds at Test level since  2006, Jones said: “He has played 146 Tests so he knows what he is doing. He is an experienced campaigner, he has a good relationship with the referees.

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Nigel Owens guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload with Simon Zebo and Ryan Wilson

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Nigel Owens guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload with Simon Zebo and Ryan Wilson

“He has at times targeted various players in our team. We have spoken about him, we understand what he will be trying to do and it’s just making sure we maintain our composure and our control,” said the England boss who went on to suggest his team are becoming more streetwise in handling pressure situations away from home.  

“We are evolving into a more street smart team. The game is about pressure situations and whilst we all like to think we can handle every pressure situation, we don’t and that is the great thing about a game of rugby. I am sure Alun Wyn Jones is going to be looking for those situations and we are going to have to deal with him.

“Experience definitely helps, having a mental model in your head about how to handle certain situations. All the research shows that if you have had that experience you are able to sometimes anticipate and certainly react quicker and come up with a solution, so experience is a big thing there. 

“But some people are fast learners and some are slow learners, some of us who aren’t so bright like me it takes us five or six times to learn something. The learning gradient is different for every player and every team and you never know exactly where you are. If you did it would be easy.”

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Jones, meanwhile, refused to take the bait when asked about allegations from famed ex-cricketer Ian Botham that England doesn’t look a happy camp and are there for the taking by a Welsh team in which Botham’s grandson James has been selected on the bench. “What do you want me to say? He’s entitled to his opinion… we have got cricketers who want to talk about rugby, fantastic.”

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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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