“Keep blaming me” – Eddie Jones fires back at England successor Steve Borthwick

Former England boss Eddie Jones has challenged Steve Borthwick to continue holding him accountable for his sides shortcomings.

Borthwick, declared that the England team he inherited from Jones, who was in charge for seven years, ‘weren’t good at anything’.

Speaking on his new podcast – Eddie – Jones said: “He is probably right. That was part of the problem. We were trying to morph a team that had been a very good set-piece and kicking team.

“The way the game is played at the moment, that will win you games but it is probably not good enough to be World Cup champions.

“So expanding the attack sometimes takes away from your strength. They are going through that difficult period now where they are trying to get the balance right in the game.

“There is no doubt Steve will fix it. And keep blaming me, that is alright. I have got a pretty strong back and pretty strong shoulders to absorb that.

“‘There is probably still a bit more pain to go for England, which is hard for the supporters and for the coaches, but I am sure they will get through it.”

“I didn’t understand it” – Max Malins reveals why he was blacklisted by former England boss Eddie Jones

Max Malins has revealed the reason he was blacklisted by former England boss Eddie Jones during the 2022 Six Nations.

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The winger stated that he was completely taken aback when Jones informed him early in the preparation for the France Test a year ago that he was being dropped due to his body language during a standard training walk through.

“That was the reason given,” said Malins. “I didn’t understand it and was taken aback by it.

“I’d like to think my attitude was always there. I’m quite a relaxed guy, not necessarily buzzing around the place all the time. Maybe my relaxed nature put a thought in his head.

“It was gutting at the time. When you’re in that shirt and it gets taken away from you, it’s a tough one to take. All you can do is take a step back from it and move forward.”

The Saracens speedster wasn’t the only England star to be blacklisted by the Aussie down the years.

#1. Joe Marler

Marler has put a future in the media into a higher gear, regularly appearing on celebrity game shows, presenting on Talk Sport and even starring in a new celebrity version of Rui Paul’s Drag Race.

With Sale Sharks powerhouse Bevan Rodd labelled the future, Jones seems comfortable moving forward with Ellis Genge and Mako Vunipola as his experienced loosehead’s moving forward.

Their relationship will have been further strained yesterday after Marler declared that Jones decision to replace 80-cap Danny Care after just 36 minutes ‘lacked respect’.

Despite only being 31-year’s-old, he has previously revealed that he doesn’t see himself playing on much longer if he fell out of favour with the England boss.

“The end is nigh,” Marler told The Times earlier this year.

“I would love to make it to the World Cup [next year] but that’s very much out of my hands. If there is a conversation with Eddie Jones saying I’m not in the plans for it, then I would accelerate life after rugby and concentrate on that, shut up shop at Quins and walk away from it.”

“Can I manage to play another three or four years at this age? Probably not. But what do I want to do?” he added.

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Joe Marler facts:

1. Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees
2. After joining the Quins academy in 2008, the prop spent some time on loan to Esher and Worthing
3. He’s been nicknamed Croissant. In his own words, it’s because: “The boys think I have a nose that looks like a French pastry.”
4. Marler was captain for England at U18s level and represented the U20 squad throughout the Junior World Championship in summer 2009
5. He is also one of the hosts of The Joe Marler Show podcast with Tom Fordyce

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