Mike Brown calls for Eddie Jones to go, 'doesn't believe a thing that comes out of his mouth'
Rugby NewsSunday, 27 November 2022 at 10:53
Former England fullback has slammed Eddie Jones following England's defeat against South Africa, insisting he doesn't believer anything the head coach says.
The trust is gone:
Brown wrote: "I have stopped believing what comes out of Eddie Jones’ mouth. I’m hearing the same things over and over again. We keep getting fed all these narratives about growth and playing style, but it’s not being backed up on the pitch.
"He keeps saying it’s his fault, so what is he doing about it? England have just finished their worst year since 2008, with five wins out of 12, and the time for talking is over. People are bored with it. He needs to be held to account."
He added: "Where was the fast start? Jones told us: ‘We are going to light up Twickenham’. The only team I saw lighting up the ground were South Africa. England were outplayed all over the pitch."
Talking rubbish:
"Some have been together for two World Cup cycles. Last week, we heard this is still a new England team, but it isn’t. There are some I played with — that is how long they have been together.
"There were players on the bench — Ellis Genge, Sam Simmonds, Jack Nowell, Ben Youngs — who could have started and that shows the quality available, but it is not clicking for some reason.
"Now England have to dominate the Six Nations and that is going to be tough. They can’t go into a World Cup after the autumn they have had and a poor Six Nations. Are the support and structures around them good enough? Are they picking the right team with the right combinations? How do they want to play?"
England's Three-Man Shortlist to replace Jones:
#1. Scott Robertson
Mike Brown, the former England fullback who captained the Barbarians against Harlequins, wrote in his Mail on Sundaycolumn that he was “convinced” Robertson would be the “perfect successor” to Jones.
Scott Robertson facts:
- Robertson showed huge ambition as he outlined a goal to win the World Cup with two different countries
- His position as a player was flanker and he played for Bay of Plenty, Perpignan, Canterbury, the Crusaders and the All Blacks
- Robertson is known for his post victory match break dancing routine
#2. Steve Borthwick
The former England captain worked with Jones for five years in the England set-up as forwards coach, and a further three years as assistant coach in Japan before that.
Having taken charge of the Tigers in 2020, Borthwick has overseen a huge turnaround at the club, transforming them from Premierships strugglers to pace-setters at the top of the table.
Steve Borthwick and Neal Hatley talk before the Guinness Six Nations Championship match between Wales and England at Principality Stadium on February 23, 2018 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
As such, his is a name very much linked to the England post.
The Leicester job is the first head coaching gig in his career, however, so the 42-year-old would be thrown in very green.
Borthwick, who picked up 57 Test caps as a player between 2001 and 2010, recently said he has "enough on my plate" at Leicester, but if England did come calling, it would be hard for him to say no.
#3. Ronan O'Gara
The La Rochelle coach is seen as one of the front-runners to replace Eddie Jones after the World Cup, whether it’s as the head coach or working with his old Crusaders boss Scott Robertson.
O’Gara has previously said he would be interested in the job because of the calibre of players available, but this morning he admitted it would be a 'big leap'.
"There’s a lot to that, being the head man it’s very much your vision. Even two people who are very aligned sometimes don’t have the same vision.
“Then again, titles don’t really interest me too much and it’s just what role Scott would like to do, I would like to do and how you share responsibility.
“Even before that, it’s a big mental leap for me to decide upon.
“I wouldn’t have given that the time required, at the minute all I’ve said is that I wouldn’t rule it out, but if you were to commit to something like that I’d have to sit down with my family and work it out."
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