The sharp end of the season is now upon us with the latter stages of both the domestic and European competitions arriving thick and fast over the next couple of weeks. As soon as both have been decided then there’s the small matter of England heading on an summer tour to Australia. England may have won a Grand Slam less than a month ago but this week Eddie Jones has sent a clear message out to his players.
Over the past four weeks England’s head coach has been carefully watching his squad, on the Sunday afternoon after their Saturday Grand Slam triumph Jones implored all to go back to their clubs and ignite the domestic competition. In his eyes most have been doing so but some haven’t and just over a month before he announces his touring squad to Australia his message is clear.
“If you look at the 32 or 33 players we used for the Six Nations I'd say at this stage 27 or 28 of those players have played with distinction. They've gone back to their clubs, they've played at international standard, they've added to their teams and that's why they're doing well. They're the best players in England. There are four or five who haven't and those guys are on notice, they won't be going on tour unless they change their approach to their play.” said England’s head coach.
“What they're doing in games is not good enough. One of the things we said when they left England, after the 6 Nations, was that they had to go back to their clubs and play like international players. There have been a few that haven't and those guys are on notice. They won't be going on tour unless they change their attitude. It's not talent, it's attitude, but the rest of them have been outstanding.”
In terms of attitudes Eddie Jones wants to ensure that these few players don’t get ahead of themselves, he mentioned no names but said that they knew who they were. His mind is clearly made up, if the individuals whomever they are, don't change the attributes that he doesn't want to see then in his words their ‘England careers will be something that’s a good memory'. With the busines end of the season coming up those that are currently being reviewed/focused on have time to turn it around and Jones final comment on the subject was that he hopes that they do.
Keeping the players on their toes and feeling 'uncomfortable' has been one of Eddie Jones mantras ever since he has been in role, for it’s his belief that players that are comfortable don’t perform to the best of their abilities.
“We've got to improve the team. The team can't sit still. We've got to improve the team and find better, younger players who are faster, more agile, more skilful and more desirous. That's the job we've got. There's an old political term, ‘you want to fix the roof when the sun's still shining’ and that's what we want to do.”
Ben Te’o is a name that certainly could be in contention to be part of Eddie’s Australian tour, the understanding is that this depends on the contractual specifics being discussed. If Dylan Hartley is fit then he will be the man to lead the tour, Eddie Jones praised his ability to influence players and to tell them to pull their socks if required but still retain a good rapport with the players.
“The growth of the team now is about not only getting tactically better but also about growing as a responsible team which can grow by itself.”
England’s Saxons tour will not necessarily be for those that are second or third in contention for places, indeed some of those individuals won’t go to South Africa according to Eddie Jones. Instead he said that it needs to be for those that are in fifth or sixth place in contention in order to see whether they can handle the test match environment. In terms of the coach that will be leading the the Saxons squad Eddie Jones will have an input in the decision but won’t be the individual making the final call. Why? I hear you ask, well that's because as he says that his sole focus is on coaching the national team.
Just a few weeks out from England’s tour to Australia the messages from Eddie Jones are loud and clear. First he doesn’t want to rest individuals this summer if you're fit the you are available. Second, the side needs to keep evolving and improving and no players place is safe. Finally, there are a few individuals that need to pull up their socks in order to secure their place on the plane and they've just a few weeks of competitive rugby to do so.
