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'Not fit for purpose': Eddie Jones accused of gaslighting as England's loss leaves fans furious
By Sam Smith
England’s catastrophic start to the Autumn Nations Series has been ridiculed online after falling to Argentina 30-29 at Twickenham.
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Owen Farrell led Eddie Jones’ side out for the Autumn Nations Series opener in a much vaunted midfield trio alongside fly-half Marcus Smith and Manu Tuilagi at 13.
Despite the pre-game hype, England looked abject in attack, with little more than route one carrying from the Tuilagi and Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga to rely on for any momentum, while relying on 33-year-old scrum-half Ben Youngs appears to be misguided.
The lack of line-breaking ability has afflicted this England side for much of 2022, with multiple midfield combinations failing to click.
Former England flyhalf and RugbyPass columnist Andy Goode blasted England’s misfiring attack, posting: “England looked lethargic and lost at times in attack, fair play to Argentina they took their chances well and scored a try worthy of victory in any game. Cheika gets his first win over Eddie Jones too.”
England looked lethargic and lost at times in attack, fair play to Argentina they took their chances well and scored a try worthy of victory in any game. Cheika gets his first win over Eddie Jones too
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) November 6, 2022
English journalist and RugbyPass contributor Chris Jones wrote: “So England Rugby lose 30-29 to UAR at home and Eddie Jones says there are too many penalties in the game. He’s right and many given away by dumb play from his players.”
So @EnglandRugby lose 30-29 to @unionargentina at home and Eddie Jones says there are too many penalties in the game. He’s right and many given away by dumb play from his players
— chris jones (@chrisjonespress) November 6, 2022
Rugby Paper journalist Neil Fisler questioned the wisdom of keeping Jones on, suggested he should have been binned off long ago. “Eddie Jones should have been removed as England coach a long time ago. Surely we aren’t going to let him stay until after the World Cup.”
Eddie Jones should have been removed as England coach a long time ago. Surely we aren’t going to let him stay until after the World Cup.
— Neil Fissler (@neilfissler) November 6, 2022
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England fans were less reserved with their assessments labelling it ‘atrocious’, ‘appalling display’ and a ‘snooze fest’.
Eddie Jones was called out for ‘gas lighting’ over misleading England fans as the standard of play has dropped over his tenure despite his insistance that progress is being made.
Another angry punter wrote: “That was a pathetic performance from England. Atrocious handling, no conviction around the ruck, inaccurate in the set piece, and the same idiotic tendency to haemorrhage penalties. Youngs really needs to be forcibly retired. Smith needs rapid service.”
That was a pathetic performance from England. Atrocious handling, no conviction around the ruck, inaccurate in the set piece, and the same idiotic tendency to haemorrhage penalties. Youngs really needs to be forcibly retired. Smith needs rapid service. #ENGvARG
— Oliver Smiddy (@OSmid) November 6, 2022
Appalling display no flair no passion no skill Youngs Cokanasiga Vunipola not fit for purpose Eddie Jones not fit for purpose he has to go embarrassing #ENGvARG
— lindylou (@lindadillon17) November 6, 2022
In all my years of watching @EnglandRugby today was the first time I’ve left the stadium early. Old guard need clearing out and Eddie Jones gone. Too many handling errors and penalties in kickable positions. Well done Argentina. #ENGvARG pic.twitter.com/lzguevyP17
— MMG 🇬🇧🇺🇦🇬🇧🇺🇦🇬🇧🇺🇦 (@MAMGoodlet) November 6, 2022
Man that was a very deflated Twickenham crowd 😱🤦♂️ very unusual for a England game. Throughout the entire match #ENGvARG #AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/jGCxBCqGLI
— Martin Hider (@hiderman101) November 6, 2022
Dear @rugby_eddie please, please, please realise that you’re destroying our team and let someone who knows modern tactics take over. #RFU #EnglandRugby #ENGvARG
— Dave Fassam (@Mcfazza2) November 6, 2022
England back line snooze fest today. We have too much going on, too many receivers not getting the ball wide. Ben Youngs as-per giving slow ball, Vanpoortvliet had immediate impact in quality of ball. Joe, Alex, and forwards generally, had good games. #ENGvARG
— Rory Johnson (@RoryJohnson2602) November 6, 2022
Huge victory celebrations at Twickenham! #ENGvARG #AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/YwIp2sN93t
— The East Terrace (@theeastterrace) November 6, 2022
Great win for Argentina. England have been dire to watch for ages. No idea why they stick with their coach #ENGvARG
— Richard Kolk (@RichardKolk39) November 6, 2022
I never fully understood what the oft-abused term ‘gaslighting’ meant…
Until Eddie Jones convinced the English Rugby public not to believe the evidence of their own eyes, for years.
Shame on the useless, complicit English journalists callowly acquiescing.#ENGvARG https://t.co/xq1QybZXm3
ADVERTISEMENT— Stephen Wall (@StephenWall1985) November 6, 2022
The only thing sadder than that England performance was the twickenham experience. No atmosphere, no silence for kickers and a constant stream to & from the bar throughout game as per. So many places do it better. Why don’t we? Complacent. Whole approach needs rethink #ENGvARG
— Louis Freeman (@LouFreeman92) November 6, 2022
In his post-match comments on Amazon Prime, head coach Eddie Jones said he couldn’t pinpoint what went wrong and lamented the lack of cohesion in his side.
“Losing always hurts. It was one of those games, the lead changed a lot,” he said.
“You can’t put your finger on what went wrong. Structurally we had control of the game but we kept making fundamental mistakes and easy errors.
“We have no excuses, the referee, the pitch was the same for both teams. They got the points at the right time. We lacked cohesion.”
The rugby dished up by England is becoming more and more like the national cuisine – very, very stodgy, and dull. And Eddie Jones is clearly no cordon bleu.