Governing body has backed England coach despite poor Six Nations but its support appears to come with hidden caveats
So Eddie Jones is still the right man to steer England forward. Or is he? The further down the carefully constructed tower of corporate Jenga-speak you descend, the less glowing the Rugby Football Union’s vote of confidence starts to look. Where, for example, is the definitive line saying: “We’re sticking with Eddie until 2023 regardless”? Let alone any gung-ho predictions about imminent World Cup glory.
Instead, to employ a technical term, Twickenham has chosen a “suck it and see” response to England’s fifth place in the 2021 Six Nations. The RFU will not even reveal who sat on the panel that deliberated upon Jones’s worth, which would merit AC-12’s scrutiny if it were not such a classic blame-avoidance tactic. If England do hoist the World Cup in France in 2023, the faceless panel members are unlikely to remain mystery voices for long.
Related: Eddie Jones retains ‘full support’ of RFU after review of England coach
Putting a block on relegation from the Gallagher Premiership risks “devaluing” the league and undermining its long-term appeal, according to Pat Lam, Bristol’s director of rugby. With the Bears set to face defending champions Exeter on Friday, Lam says there needs to be a greater incentive for lower-ranked teams if the competition’s standards are to be maintained.
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