England coach Eddie Jones believes that a couple of tongue-in-cheek comments cost him the chance to coach the British & Irish Lions in 2021.
In his autobiography, Eddie Jones – My Life and Rugby, Jones reveals that he had a desire to take charge of the Lions during their tour to South Africa.
Jones revealed in the book that comments he made about the Irish and Welsh, intended to be comedic, may have harmed his chances, adding that he was not helped by an attempt to downplay the links between himself and the invitational side.
Unappealing behaviour from Eddie Jones yesterday.
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) February 11, 2018
He’s been lobbing hand-grenades all week.
May need an attitude adjustment if he genuinely fancies being the Lions’ head coach.
‘In my attempt to amuse the Japanese audience I referred to the “scummy Irish” and Wales as a “little s**t place”. I was embarrassed. Not only because the slurs weren’t funny but because they weren’t my real views. I was going for a cheap laugh. While it was clear in the video that I was smiling and joking, it looked bad. It was bad.
‘I have for a long time wanted to coach the British & Irish Lions. I still hope that, one day, I might get the opportunity. Apart from telling Pemby (communications adviser David Pembroke), I’d kept it a secret that I had set my sights on the 2021 tour of South Africa. That will be one of the great tours in the history of world rugby.
JOIN THE RUCK
‘In preparation, we were keeping our powder dry and saying all the right things about how you have to be asked before you could consider it. But then I got a long-distance phone call from a journalist in Brisbane. I tried to have a laugh with him and said: “The last thing I want to do is spend eight weeks in a blazer. That’s an ambassador job. I’m a coach. I’d rather coach the Queensland Sheffield Shield [cricket] team.” Again, it was a terrible lapse of judgement.’
Jones adds that it was a case of bad judgement on his behalf and he is still not sure why he decided to make the comments.
‘Despite those comments, my genuine opinion is that it would be an honour and a privilege.’
LIST | Sir Ian McGeechan’s 10 best young players in the world
Former British and Irish Lions had coach and Telegraph Sport columnist Sir Ian McGeechan selects the 10 young players set to take the world by storm.
Read his full article by clicking here.
1. Marcus Smith, 21, England
“I have watched a lot of him. He never looks flustered on the ball, which is the hallmark of a great player and he has been in and around the England squad without yet being capped.”
2. Jordan Joseph, 19, France
“A powerful runner with good hands and a skilful offload game.”
3. Caelan Doris, 22, Ireland
“Another one off the Leinster independent schools production line (Blackrock College) and one of the standout No 8s in this season’s Champions Cup.”