Despite England’s defeat at the hands of Paris in the Six Nations Championship, the RFU has continued to support Eddie Jones, the head coach of the national team.
This may surprise a few fans who expected a better performance from Eddie’s men, who finished third place after Saturday night’s 25-13 defeat to Paris. However, the Rugby Football Union has reiterated their support and hope to see continuous progress in rebuilding a winning England team.
But what does this mean for fans and the coach? Keep reading as we provide you with updates on English Rugby.
Like other teams, the England team were optimistic about heading to the Six Nations Championship. However, they did not perform up to expectations. Their first game against Scotland ended in a 20-17 defeat, but the team secured a 33-0 win against Italy.
In the third game, England defeated Wales, 23-19 but could not score a win in the last two games, against Ireland and France. They lost three games but scored 101 points while conceding 96. At the end of the championship, England finished in the third position.
Some fans criticised Eddie Jones and his players for England's not-so-good performance. This is understandable, especially for punters that bet on the team and expected better results. You can find the best sportsbooks to bet on UK rugby games at bettingoffers360.co.uk.
The last time England won a Grand Slam was in 2016, although they won the championship in 2020. Besides, this is the third time in five years the team has recorded three losses in the championship.
The RFU has publicly stated his continuous support for Eddie Jones despite fan criticism. This means Eddie will remain the head coach of the team and will continue with his process of rebuilding the England rugby team.
According to an RFU spokesman, the Union is encouraged by the team’s solid progress in the Six Nations Championship. However, Jones will meet with the “advisory panel” to analyse the failed campaign and conduct a full review. They will also discuss steps to move forward and perform better, especially with the World Cup that is 18 months away.
Despite the speculations on Jones’ future, the 62-year-old believes he is the right man to lead England. However, he says fans need to have some faith in him and the team. Jones has been at the reins of the England national team for 7 years. He has managed to win 3 Six Nations Championship, 1 Grand Slam, 2 Triple Crown, 4 Calcutta Cup, and 3 Millennium Trophies.
According to Eddie Jones, the team is going through a rebuilding phase, and it takes time. He pointed out that he would love England to win more tournaments and be top of the table. The players are putting in the effort, but the results are not what he or the team likes. Nevertheless, he promised to continue giving his best, and he is focused and preparing for the Rugby World Cup that will kick off in September 2023.
The RFU are not the only ones to support the head coach. The players have also given Jones their backing. Hooker Jamie George says he believes Eddie Jones to be the perfect man for the job. He claims the coach has been brilliant and continues to instil confidence in the team. Besides that, the hooker pointed out that the pressure should not be only on the coach and that the players take full responsibility for the disappointing Guinness Six Nations campaign.
While some people may think Eddie Jones is being judged harshly, others do not. When the Australian started out and was winning games and trophies, there was little or no complaint about his performance. However, now that the team is performing not up to par, Jones has been under the gun and needs to work hard to help the team get back to winning ways.
One thing seems inevitable; if England does not start winning trophies and games that matter, Jones will be shown the door. There are claims that the head coach views the Six Nations as a dry run for the Rugby World Cup, and this can be a mistake on his part.
England will return to action on June 19th when they take on Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium. After that, they will depart for the Australian tour, where they will play a three-Test series.
No doubt, Jones is under pressure from the fans to deliver, especially after the not-so-good performance in the Six Nations Championship. However, since the RFU has given the head coach their backing, we can expect him to remain at the reins of the England national rugby team. Jones has also encouraged fans to have some faith in him as he believes he is the right man for the job. He claims the team is in a rebuilding phase which will soon pass.
England is preparing for the Australian tour that will take place in June and the Rugby World Cup that is 18 months from now. Fans will be hoping that the team will win more games and tournaments.
