EDDIE JONES has revealed he received a number of calls last week from England players eager to address the indiscipline that has ruined their Guinness Six Nations title defence.
Following the 40-24 mauling by Wales, the squad left camp for a scheduled break week but the shortcoming of England’s Championship-high penalty count compelled some to ring Jones.
Across the opening three rounds, the team have leaked a ruinous average of 13.6 penalties per game with the collapse at the Principality Stadium the nadir. Maro Itoje alone conceded five.
Improved discipline has become England’s number one priority and Jones detects a high level of motivation to stop incurring the wrath of referees.
“No one goes out there and tries to give away penalties. Everyone is working hard but sometimes players just over-exert in certain areas,” Jones said.
“Those players we’ll have a quiet chat to and they’ve been reflecting on it. I’ve had at least three or four players ring me during the week to talk about how they need to tend to their errors. That’s the great honesty of this team. We’ll keep working on that.
“There are other little bits and pieces you can do, but the main thing is to understand your responsibility at that point in the game.
“We looked at the Wales game. We’re disappointed that we didn’t handle that last 20 minutes better. Unfortunately we didn’t finish that game off well.”
England’s next assignment is against France at Twickenham on Saturday before their Six Nations ends against Ireland in Dublin the following weekend.
Sam Underhill made a successful comeback from a hip injury for Bath against Exeter on Saturday but Jones stated that the squad size limit of 28 players means he can not pick the big-hitting flanker.
Emphatic losses to Scotland and Wales are forcing England to rescue their Six Nations from disaster, while in the process freshening up an underperforming team.
“We are going through a transition period now,” Jones said.
“We had a fairly settled team from 2019 until now and, like most teams when you have had a settled period, there needs to be a little bit of a revision of your members and freshen it up and we are going through that at the moment.
“I would say anywhere up to 70% of this squad will go through to the World Cup, but it will be dependent on their desire, their form and their fitness. We take all of those things into consideration.”
An outbreak of coronavirus in France’s squad resulted in the postponement of their round-three match against Scotland, meaning the tournament favourites will not have played for a month when they arrive at Twickenham.
“We’ve seen teams play very well after breaks and teams play not so well after a break. We’re more concerned about ourselves this week rather than what France will bring,” Jones said.
“We know they’ll be well organised, big and physical in the forwards. The good attributes they bring to the game won’t have changed and we’ll have to find the best of ourselves.”
Great news, neither could care less
@Stanley: Any word of a call up for Greg Cunningham? Decent left back and back playing again now after an injury. Can’t be worse than anything else we’ve tried.
Any wonder we struggle at this level when you see all those players and the clubs they’re at. We no longer have players at top clubs, even our premier league players are of championship standard except for Coleman and maybe another 1 or 2. Until we get a goalscorer who we can be confident of at least a goal every 2 games, then we have to accept performances like Saturday night. The manager is not the issue, the squad just isnt good enough.
@Declan Snow: no offense to the lad but when your number 9 is a 34 year who plays for Luton that says it all really, shocking lack of quality these days.
@Jack Torrance: he’s 30
@Jack Torrance: he’s 30 but yeah he can barely even get a game for Luton
Our passing accuracy should improve now. Give Lee O’Connor another run at it
Tbf Matt Doherty has been a huge disappointment. Don’t know what is going on with him, but he’s gone backwards. Enda Stevens is half decent and always seems to have a go. Wouldn’t knock him
@Cathal Keeshan: Both were have really good seasons last year compared to this season
@Cathal Keeshan: I saw a couple of interviews where he criticized the Irish set up while at Wolves. Seemed to have a very high opinion of himself.
@Michéal Ó Tuama: Well if that’s the case it’s a pity. The playing career is a short one.
@Cathal Keeshan: the fella was in prem team of the season, went to spurs, got Jose d, and is a shadow of his former self. Needs gametime
@ConPhoto: Trent Alexander Arnold was right back on team of the year for last two seasons.
Wouldn’t have had either of them starting. Back to a flat 4. Give Ryan manning a chance
@Declan O’Leary: hasn’t kicked on this season and has been mainly a sub
Lucky them
A few new run outs to be expected . This panel of players are what Steven has to work with , managers make decisions and calls , players have to give it their all. He has to get the best from these players and he needs time , he also needs as more so the players need , the backing of supporters and media to try and achieve this .