Six Nations: is England head coach Eddie Jones on his way out?
RFU denies an approach has been made to South Africa’s Rassie Erasmus
England beat Scotland at a storm-swept Murrayfield on Saturday to win the Calcutta Cup but in a dire game of Six Nations rugby most of the talking points were about events off the field.
One of the England coaching staff, Neil Craig, was hit by a plastic bottle thrown from the crowd and thousands of Scottish fans booed and jeered Owen Farrell every time he kicked for goal.
Despite the Edinburgh aggression, England kept their composure amid gale-force winds and driving rain to win 13-6 with substitute prop Ellis Genge scoring the only try of the game when he barreled over from close range on 70 minutes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sausage swipe
In a bristling post-match interview Genge labelled England’s critics as “sausages”, and he was followed to the microphone by an equally acerbic Eddie Jones.
“We weren’t expecting beer bottles to be thrown at us,” said England head coach Jones. “That’s a pretty good achievement isn’t it, throwing beer bottles. You have to be pretty brave to throw a beer bottle. Neil has a hard head, I know that, and there is not much inside it!”
Despite trying to make light of the incident, Jones was visibly angry at the antics of the Scottish crowd, added: “It’s not good behaviour… If that’s how the Scottish fans are going to be respectful we have to acknowledge it and just get on with it.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Scots sorry
In response to the incident a Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) spokesperson said an apology had been “extended” to England, adding that “there is no evidence the bottle was thrown or intended to hit any individual”.
The defeat will increase the pressure on Scotland coach Gregor Townsend, whose side are still without a win the championship, as will an interview in The Sunday Times with Finn Russell.
The fly-half, axed from the squad last month after allegedly breaking team regulations, challenged the official version of events and said there was little chance of his returning to the squad as long as Townsend remained at the helm.
England eye Erasmus?
Meanwhile the Rugby Football Union (RFU) were forced to issue a statement on Sunday denying media reports that they have sounded out South Africa chief Rassie Erasmus about replacing Jones.
Erasmus guided the Springboks to Rugby World Cup glory last year, including a 32-12 hammering of England in the final, and has since changed roles to become the country’s director of rugby.
South African media claimed at the weekend that the RFU have made an approach to Erasmus to replace Jones, whose contract expires in 2021.
But that drew a swift response from RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney, who said: “The reports are 100% inaccurate. There has been no meeting. There have been no talks whatsoever about any position at the RFU.”
According to The Daily Telegraph, Erasmus is in the UK for commercial reasons and his lawyer, Frikkie Erasmus, told the paper: “He is flavour of the month because he won the World Cup, so he is being linked with every position going, but he has no intention of going anywhere.”
Irish eyes smiling
In the weekend’s other two matches, Ireland comfortably beat Wales 24-14 and France were a model of inconsistency in seeing off a spirited Italian outfit 35-22 in Paris.
The week two results leaves the French and the Irish as the only two unbeaten teams in the tournament but neither has yet hit the road in the championship.
That will change in a fortnight when Ireland travel to Twickenham and France face Wales in Cardiff.
Six Nations results and fixtures
Round two results
- Ireland 24 Wales 14
- Scotland 6 England 13
- France 35 Italy 22
Round three fixtures
- Saturday 22 February: Italy vs. Scotland (2.15pm GMT; ITV); Wales vs. France (4.45pm GMT; BBC and S4C)
- Sunday 23 February: England vs. Ireland (3pm GMT; ITV)
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What's next for electric vehicles under Trump?
Today's Big Question And what does that mean for Tesla's Elon Musk?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Eddie Jones named Australia head coach: will he come back to haunt England?
Speed Read There’s every chance England will face the Wallabies in the World Cup knockout stages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Six Nations: a new golden age for French rugby?
feature The hosts of next year’s Rugby World Cup will take some stopping
By The Week Staff Published
-
2022 Six Nations ‘Super Saturday’: round five fixtures, title permutations, TV, standings
In Depth France are on course for the grand slam, but can Ireland pip them to the title?
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Rejuvenated England show spirit, unity and ‘never-say-die courage’
feature Eddie Jones’s new-look side complete autumn Test clean sweep by toppling South Africa
By The Week Staff Published
-
Rugby union lawsuits: impact could be ‘astronomical’ for governing bodies
Speed Read RPA says training protocols ‘need addressing very quickly’ over head injuries
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Eddie Jones to lead England at 2023 Rugby World Cup and Barcelona want Neymar-Griezmann deal
Speed Read Ten things from the world of sport on Thursday 2 April
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport shorts: Joe Marler gets ten-week ban for testicle grab and Wales vs. Scotland is off
Daily Briefing Ten things from the world of sport on Friday 13 March
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sports shorts: Indian Wells cancelled over coronavirus, Premier League in jeopardy
Daily Briefing Ten things from the world of sport on Monday 9 March
By The Week Staff Published