Former England head coach Eddie Jones, whose tenure ended abruptly in December 2022, leaves behind a legacy as arguablly their most successful boss in the history of the sport, boasting an unparalleled win percentage.
Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Despite his departure under less than ideal circumstances, Jones’ achievements solidify his place among the greatest England coaches of all time.
Jones’ remarkable record surpasses even that of World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward, cementing his status as a legendary figure in English rugby. His tenure, spanning from September 2015 to March 2017, witnessed England’s extraordinary run of 18 consecutive test match victories, matching a record for top-tier nations.
Impressively, Jones orchestrated 17 of these victories, including notable triumphs such as a Six Nations Grand Slam and a historic 3-0 series win against the Wallabies in Australia.
With an overall win percentage of 72.8%, Jones edges ahead of the esteemed Woodward by 1%, further highlighting his unparalleled success at the helm of the England team.
In contrast, current England coach Steve Borthwick falls short of Jones’ remarkable achievements, with a win percentage of only 57.1% since assuming the role in December 2022.
England head coaches ranked by win %
- Eddie Jones: 72.8%
- Jack Rowell: 72.4%
- Geoff Cooke: 72.0%
- Sir Clive Woodward: 71.1%
- Mike Davis: 62.5%
- Stuart Lancaster: 60.9%
- Steve Borthwick: 57.1%
- Brian Ashton: 54.5%
- Martin Johnson: 55.3%
- Andy Robinson: 40.9%
- John Elders: 37.5%
- Martin Green: 35.7%
- Peter Colston: 33.3%
- Dick Greenwood: 23.5%
- Don White: 27.3%
- John Burgess: 16.7%
- Rob Andrew: 0%
“Did stupid things” – Eddie Jones ranks his worst England call-ups
From the era of Curry and Underhill, to the dynamic duo of Itoje and Genge, Eddie Jones had exhibited remarkable skill in selecting the ideal players across the pitch since assuming the helm in 2015.
Nevertheless, not every player he called up managed to make a lasting impact.
As we delve into some of the individuals Eddie Jones brought into the squad since December 2015, we aim to comprehend, in their own words, why they couldn’t solidify their positions in the hearts of fans as once anticipated.
#5. Denny Solomona
His England career began with the definition of a ‘bang’ – a dream first run out in the England shirt, he came off the bench to score a last-minute winner in a dramatic 38-34 win against Argentina in San Juan on June 10, 2017.
Jones said: “There’s something about him, he finds the [try] line and you like wingers who find the line. I think he’s got that X factor, whatever you want to call it.”
However, two months later, Solomona was sent home from England’s training camp in disgrace after returning drunk to the team hotel. The winger would win just three more caps, failing to score in any of them with Jones questioning the speedster’s character. Not what we all expected after a stunning debut.
RUCK VERDICT: He has vowed to put his off-field problems behind him. His Premiership form before lockdown earned him some admirers – time for an international recall? You never know.
