Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Jones backtracks on TV Smith/Farrell quip and has pop at Woodward

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Eddie Jones has backtracked on his live TV comment that Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell is a strategy now seemingly set in stone for his England team. The teething 10/12 combination of the respective Harlequins and Saracens out-halves had its best outing yet on Saturday when seven tries – including two from Smith – and 52 points were scored against an outclassed Japan in the second match of their four-game Autumn Nations Series.

ADVERTISEMENT

That performance has put England back on track following last Sunday’s 29-30 slip-up versus Argentina, rejuvenating confidence that next weekend’s glamour Twickenham clash against the All Blacks is not a mission impossible for a home team that has struggled with inconsistent displays.

Jones implied during an interview on Amazon Prime that the Smith/Farrell combination was now here to stay. However, when the remark was said back to him at his media centre briefing about an hour after full-time, he retracted what he had suggested and added that if better information was required, journalists should instead ask ex-England boss Clive Woodward, one of Jones’ fiercest critics in recent times.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

The subject of Smith and Farrell in tandem at the heart of English creativity behind a dominant pack was raised when a journalist said: “I think you said on telly you have already decided that Marcus and Owen are going to play together again. Have you set that in motion for the autumn now?”

Jones laughed when he heard this and he quickly put his big-sounding TV comment into context. “Well, that was with Dylan (Hartley) and Matt Giteau, it was like drinking at the bar, two old players.

Related

“But look, we think Marcus and Owen can be really good together but like any strategy, you have just got to keep having results and there is no reason why they shouldn’t continue being that, but we don’t get a team sheet and put those two names in ink that you can’t rub out.

“So yes, yes, we really like it but there is always changes that you need to make and we need to be flexible and we need to be adaptable and we will be. So this obsession with saying these two need to be ten and twelve is not the way we really think.

ADVERTISEMENT

“You (media) guys can think like that. I am sure Clive Woodward has got his thoughts on it, so maybe you can ask him. He can maybe give you some better information than I can.”

Having chuckled at himself for taking his latest swipe at Woodward, Jones went on to agree that the England attack did look far more potent than six days earlier when greatly shackled by the Pumas. “Our running and kicking game gave us opportunities to move the ball. They are a handy team, Japan – it was just seven points to the All Blacks (when they played in Tokyo two weeks ago).

“So we were able to get on the front foot through our running and kicking and then we were able to move the ball in the space but we probably missed 20 points. Conservatively we missed 20 points out there.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 1 hour 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
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
Search