Jones defiant amid England rugby scrutiny

Under-fire England rugby coach Eddie Jones says criticism is a part of the job as he prepares his side for the third Test against South Africa.

Eddie Jones.

Eddie Jones says England are doing everything to turn their form around following five losses. (AAP)

Eddie Jones insists he is pulling knives out of his back having anticipated the turbulent period currently engulfing his England reign.

South Africa have seized an unassailable 2-0 lead in their series with Saturday's final encounter in Cape Town remaining to leave Jones fighting for his future in the wake of five successive Test defeats.

The Rugby Football Union has given its backing to their head coach and there are no plans to reconsider his contract, which expires in 2023 subject to a break clause dependent on performance at next year's World Cup.

England have plunged to sixth in the global rankings on the back of Saturday's 23-12 defeat in Bloemfontein, but Jones sounded a note of defiance by revealing the sense of fulfilment he feels from leading a team out of crisis.

"Every coaching job is the same," he said.

"When you are doing well, everyone pats you on the back and when you are not doing well, you're pulling knives out of your back. That's the reality of it.

"I've been through it before many times. If you coach for a long period of time you have your good periods and your bad periods. These are the great periods.

"That's what I love doing. I love coaching this team. If someone decides that's not good enough, then they decide.

"If someone decides I'm good enough then I will keep coaching. That's what I've done with every team I've coached and it's no different now."

Jones has faced a tsunami of criticism following South Africa's comfortable victory at Free State Stadium on Saturday, including some calls to step down.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world