Eddie Jones has accused the private school system, suggesting that they are producing players who lack the resolve and the skill to take the England national team to a higher level.
"They are good, tough players," he said in an interview with the I.
"They work hard but they only know what they know.
"If you have only been in a system where you get to 15, you have a bit of rugby ability and then go to Harrow. Then for two years you do nothing but play rugby, everything’s done for you. You have this closeted life.
"When things go to crap on the field who’s going to lead because these blokes have never had experience of it? I see it as a big thing.
"When we are on the front foot we are the best in the world. When we are not, our ability to find a way to win, our resolve, is not as it should be.
"I’ve been here seven years now and I’ve never seen kids in a park playing touch [rugby]. It’s all formal coaching in a formal setting in public schools.
"You are going to have to blow the whole thing up at some stage,’ he added. ‘Change it because you are not getting enough skilful players through."
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WHICH ENGLAND STAR WENT TO THE MOST EXPENSIVE SCHOOL?
#5 .Anthony Watson, Fullback: St George’s College, London (£17,235)
#4. Henry Slade, Centre: Plymouth College, Plymouth (£27,765)
#3. Ben Youngs, Scrum Half: Gresham’s School, Norfolk (£31,950)
#2. Elliot Daly, Fullback/Winger: Whitgift School, Croydon (£35,522)
#1. Billy Vunipola, No 8: Harrow School, London (£36,150)
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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