RFU CEO Bill Sweeney has reacted to 'dishonest' statement on Jones

Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney has acknowledged that the Guinness Six Nations fell below expectations – but he remained convinced that Eddie Jones is the right man to guide England into the 2023 World Cup. England finished third in the Six Nations table after slumping to three defeats for a second consecutive year, yet the RFU’s initial reaction was to state that “we are encouraged by the solid progress the team has made”.

It was an attempt to end any uncertainty over Jones’ future, but it provoked an outcry with former England wing Ugo Monye and retired Wales captain Sam Warburton accusing Twickenham of being “dishonest”. RugbyPass columnist Andy Goode also weighed in on the debate, the ex-England out-half alleging that the RFU statement was “insulting to fans”.

Sweeney has reacted to the controversy, saying: “The feelings were genuine. Really disappointed, massively frustrated. Should we have said that more upfront on Saturday? Yes, probably, recognising fans’ disappointment as well.

Freddie Steward | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 26

Freddie Steward | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 26

We wrap up the Guinness Six Nations with England fullback Freddie Steward joining the show this week. We get their view on Italy’s historic win against Wales, Scotland’s disappointing performance in Dublin and France’s Grand Slam winning performance in Paris. Freddie tells us about his pre-match rituals, his England bestie, life in student digs, Pennyhill Park and which opposition player impressed him the most in the Six Nations.

“We are all, as an organisation and to a person, incredibly disappointed with what happened this year in the Six Nations. You’d expect more from England and we demand more in terms of our results and our performances. Our emotions have been running very high. It still feels quite raw.

“Winning two this year compared to winning two last year is not progress and that’s a fair criticism. But in terms of how we feel the team is progressing and how it’s developing, in the context of where we want to get to, we feel we’re heading in the right direction, hence we were OK with that statement.”

Apart from the title won on points difference during the covid-interrupted Six Nations of 2020, England’s record in the tournament over the last five years makes for grim reading. In that period they have finished fifth twice and on three occasions managed to claim only two wins, increasing the scrutiny on Jones’ position as head coach.

A successful autumn that produced victories over Tonga, Australia and South Africa bought him breathing space, yet the RFU’s unconditional support of the Australian rankles with sections of the rugby public. Jones will now face the customary end-of-championship review that will be conducted by Sweeney and a panel of unnamed figures from the game, but his future is assured whatever their findings.

“We speak with Eddie on a very frequent basis and he updates us in terms of our thinking and where he thinks we’re falling short,” Sweeney said. “He has got the absolute belief and commitment of the players and we believe he is the right guy to take us through. We will continue to review as we go through.

“It’s not easy coming fifth in a Six Nations. It’s not easy coming third, but it is worse coming fifth. Forget the rankings for a second – you just don’t want to lose. Do we have the right setup? Do we have the right organisation? Are we going to progress or are we deluding ourselves? Whenever we have had that conversation, we have come out on the side of ‘no, we think we’re going in the right direction as we are transitioning and rebuilding this team’.”

Among the criticisms made against Jones are his repeated promises to ensure that England peak at the World Cup, which is being staged in France next year, while the Six Nations pass without success. It is a message that jars with supporters asked to pay up to £200 to watch a match at Twickenham, but Sweeney has offered reassurances that the championship has not been reduced to a series of staging posts marking out time until the global showpiece.

“We go into every tournament wanting to win it and we thought we had a good shot at this one,” Sweeney said. “We will certainly go into the next one expecting to go to Ireland in the final game going for a Grand Slam – that is certainly our intention.

“In international rugby, you have got that balance of winning matches and also developing the team at the same time. So, how do you do that? You will hear conversations about ‘development’ or ‘progression’ or whatever but that is not to mean, or intended to be, to the detriment of the current competition you are playing in. We hold the Six Nations very dearly.”