As Eddie Jones neared the final chapters of his England tenure, few decisions sparked more controversy than his treatment of Ollie Lawrence. In his 2021 book Leadership, Jones left little to the imagination when discussing the young centre’s supposed shortcomings.
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“He’s [Lawrence] still a kid, only 21, but the way that some of the media raves about him you would think he’s already assured of becoming one of the best players in the world,” Jones wrote. “He might do that, one day, but his attitude was not hungry or disciplined enough.”
But fast forward to the 2024 Six Nations, and Lawrence didn’t just answer his critics—he put on a clinic. Commanding the midfield against heavyweights like Ireland and France, he admitted he was motivated to prove Jones wrong.
Reflecting on his journey, Lawrence said: “I’ve grown up a lot… Sometimes these things need to happen for you to go into a different position.”
Jones’ Top Five Flops
Not every gamble paid off for Jones during his England reign, and here are five players who never quite met expectations. What did Eddie have to say about them, and where are they now?
5. Denny Solomona
A dream debut: scoring the match-winner in a thriller against Argentina in June 2017. Eddie loved his flair, saying, “There’s something about him… he finds the [try] line.”
However, off-field issues derailed his career. Just two months after his stunning debut, Solomona was dismissed from camp for breaking team discipline. He played just three more caps, none yielding a try.
RUCK Verdict: Talented but troubled. His Premiership form has seen flashes of brilliance—could we see him in an England jersey again?
4. Gary Graham
Jones likened him to a modern-day Robshaw, praising his grit: “He’s a good tough boy. He’s got a nice demeanour and is hungry.”
But instead of representing the Red Rose, Graham ended up pulling on the blue of Scotland. A case of ‘what could have been.’
3. Jack Clifford
Eddie had high hopes for Clifford, once describing the Quins back-rower as “the real deal” and tipping him to lead England at the 2019 World Cup. Injuries, however, cruelly cut his career short. Clifford retired at just 27, having earned 10 caps.
RUCK Verdict: A warrior whose potential was undone by a brutal string of injuries. Harlequins and England fans alike mourned what he could have achieved.
2. Ollie Lawrence
Lawrence’s initial international stats were rough: in four appearances, he managed only five meters from nine runs. Jones lamented: “It’s been disappointing for him and us so far. Scotland was a difficult game for Ollie.”
Eddie’s critique in Leadership only added fuel to the fire, branding Lawrence as lacking in hunger and discipline. Yet under Steve Borthwick, Lawrence has rediscovered his form and flourished.
RUCK Verdict: A complete turnaround. Lawrence has gone from a question mark to a key player in Borthwick’s new era.
1. Danny Cipriani
Few players have captured headlines like Danny Cipriani. Eddie was frank: “When a player consistently does stupid things, you don’t expect him to change much.” The showdown against Saracens’ Owen Farrell was billed as a defining moment, but it ended with Farrell outshining him.
RUCK Verdict: Cipriani remains the most mercurial talent of his generation. His England career was more about what could have been than what was.
