Jamie George joins the debate over Eddie Jones' England era
Jamie George has explained that he recognises Danny Care’s damning assessment of Eddie Jones’ England regime but he insisted that the Australian’s contribution to the national team was reflected in his success. Care, who won 101 caps until his international retirement earlier this year, is highly critical of Jones in his autobiography Everything Happens for a Reason, claiming that “everyone was bloody terrified of him”.
The Harlequins scrum-half added that Jones’ England environment was “like living in a dictatorship, under a despot who disappeared people”. Jones was sacked in December 2022 after presiding over a slump in results with Steve Borthwick, his former number two with Japan and England, taking charge.
George, who became first choice hooker under Jones, revealed that players have more of a voice in the environment created by Borthwick. “Everyone has their own experiences. I lived it with Danny at the time, I knew how he felt about it,” the England captain said.
“Eddie was someone who never wanted to sit still, always wanted to get better and pushed people. It was challenging at times, of course it was, and I understand what Danny is saying. Equally, what he said in his book is that Eddie was one of the best coaches he worked with and that runs true. Eddie did brilliant things for English rugby.
“We got to a World Cup final in 2019 and we probably live with regret that we didn’t win that. We won a Grand Slam and a couple more Six Nations – that is the sign of a good coach to me. You have got to reflect on the good times and the bad.
“Eddie was very clear in his ways and what I know is that now we have got a much more inclusive environment in which we can challenge and accept and speak to all the members of staff. I guess it hasn’t always been that way.”
While lifting the lid on Jones’ brutal management style, Care also praises the 64-year-old and suggested that his methods were necessary to reach the pinnacle of the game. “He gave me some of the greatest memories of my rugby career – that came at a price. Maybe it had to be that way to get the success that we had,” Care said. “Maybe you have to go through some really tough times, and be that driven, and there be that much pressure, to get that.”
George, who has won six Gallagher Premiership and three European titles with Saracens, disputed this belief. “I don’t think necessarily there is always a cost to winning. I don’t believe that,” he said. “I have been part of teams that create really positive environments, Saracens being one of them.
“We have won some pretty big things and were very successful with a different way of viewing things and going about things. At the same time there is success both ways, it is dependent on the personnel at the time.”
George leads England into Saturday’s clash with Australia at Allianz Stadium looking to bounce back from the 24-22 defeat to New Zealand that opened the Autumn Nations Series.
Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 tickets application phase is now open! Apply now.
You have to remember that England were not behaving like professional sportsmen under Johnno or Lancaster. More like a bunch of uni students mucking about under Johnno and then you had George and Mike Ford trying to sabotage Sam Burgess's career and undermine Lancaster, who brought Sam into union. Mike Ford wanted Stuart Lacaster's job. That culminated in the 2015 Wales rwc pool match where Ford ignored his captain and arguably threw the game. I've read and seen all the vitriol from Bath against Sam Burgess and he finally opened up and told the whole story last year. Given all this chaos, I think Eddie Jones was perfect for England. They either grew up or they went out on their ear. You also need to remember Care was arrested for public indecency while drunk and urinating on the steps of a hotel, so he's one of the manchildren I mentioned earlier. No wonder he was scared of Jones.
I remember when Eddie was appointed some SH pundits saying he'll get fast results and then it will fall apart - exactly what happened. He brutalised them into being a load of super fit, tough guys who could beat other sides up... But he overtrained them, ran them into the ground, bullied them, crushed their moral and creativity, destroyed his coaches and when the chinks in the armour started to emerge the house of cards fell down spectacularly. England went from rabid attack dogs to tired, injured, confused and depressed.
So to conclude Jamie George is saying that in England at test or club level, it is necessary to either cheat ($arrie$ financial doping) or brutalise the squad in order to win? Sounds about right…