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England chiefs not afraid to sack Eddie Jones before World Cup – if poor results continue
24th June 2018,
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TWICKENHAM chiefs will not be afraid to sack Eddie Jones before next year’s World Cup if England continue to crash and burn.
Jones says he has already picked his World Cup squad with England’s opener against Tonga just 15 months away, on September 22 in Sapporo.
But asked if there is a point where it is too close to Japan 2019 to make a change, RFU chairman Andy Cosslett said: “No, there is no time limit.
“Things happen at the most inconvenient time, that’s life. And you make decisions on the basis of the evidence or information you have.
“You’re asking for unconditional support. Only my children get that.
“We have shown a lot of confidence in Eddie and we think he is still the man. But we will see where it goes to in the next few months.”
Boss Jones, 58, must present his review of the disastrous South Africa tour to RFU chief executive Steve Brown in the next few days.
Saturday’s 25-10 win in the dead-rubber Third Test halted a run of six defeats but they still lost the series 2-1 to a rookie Springboks side.
England face South Africa again, New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham this autumn and Jones will be under huge pressure if he fails to deliver results with the clock ticking towards Japan.
Danny Cipriani and Jonny May saved Jones at Newlands as the fly-half’s delightful kick set up winger May’s third try of the series.
But there have been precious few good moments off the pitch.
Joe Marler and Mike Brown were both involved in rows with local fans after the Second Test defeat.
And even Jones was goaded into a response by rowdy Boks supporters as England forgot the RFU’s core values of respect and discipline.
Yet Cossett insisted: “I think they behaved brilliantly in a hostile environment. We are very proud of them. There are lines that you can draw and I don’t think they have gone behind those lines.”
The RFU are looking to make up to 100 employees redundant. Yet Aussie Jones — on £750,000 a year — will get all the cash he wants while others at Twickenham pay for the crisis with their jobs.
Cosslett added: “We have made it clear winning the World Cup is our No 1 ambition. Therefore there is an element of prioritisation, no question.
“Part of the review will be to explain his structures but Eddie doesn’t need to get sign-off for everything. Everyone has to be cost-conscious but it is about value, not the money he spends.”
Jones will crack on regardless, though.
He revealed: “We picked a World Cup squad on Friday — and it is not too different from what we had pencilled in before.
“There may be one or two guys on this tour who have fought their way in. We have a pretty good idea who can go forward and who can’t.”
TWICKENHAM chiefs will not be afraid to sack Eddie Jones before next year’s World Cup if England continue to crash and burn.
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