England star makes RFU plea as Red Roses set to ‘topple’ South Africa

South Africa win the 2023 Rugby World Cup

As the dust settles after South Africa’s Rugby World Cup triumph there are still major developments going on in the immediate aftermath. Chiefly, the departure of Australia head coach Eddie Jones following a disastrous tournament that saw the Wallabies fail to qualify for the quarterfinals for the first time in the country’s history.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Jones resigned on Sunday after ten tumultuous months in charge. Speaking to the Australian newspaper about his exit, Jones said: “[I] gave it a run. Hopefully, be the catalyst for change. Sometimes you have to eat s*** for others to eat caviar further down the track.”

Jones has been linked with a move back to Japan to coach the national team but when asked what he would do next Jones insisted he would “sit for a while” before making any decisions. “I sit for [a] while,” he said. “Spend some time with [my wife] Hiroko. We have had to live apart essentially last year. It’s been tough.”

Jones spent two stints with the Cherry Blossoms. Firstly, as an assistant coach in 1996 followed by a three-year stay as head coach from 2012 to 2015. He won four Asian Cups and a Pacific Nations cup during his time at the helm.

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RFU accused of bringing England rugby ‘to its knees’

Former Red Roses head coach Sir Clive Woodward has accused the RFU of bringing England Rugby to “its knees” despite their bronze medal finish this year. Woodward believes the governing body is an “old boy’s club” that needs shaking up if England are ever to win another World Cup.

Although Woodward is impressed by Borthwick and the players he has at his disposal, the 67-year-old wants to see the head coach gain some backing from a quality director of rugby in order to help England reach that next level.

The former Rugby World Cup winner proposes that the RFU look to the South African and New Zealand coaching boxes and consider the possibility of bringing on board a member of their coaching staff to become England’s new director of rugby.

England set to ‘topple’ South Africa

England are set to secure the signature of Rugby World Cup-winning South Africa coach Felix Jones. The former Ireland international will become Steve Borthwick’s assistant ahead of next year’s Six Nations in a move the Red Roses hope will help them finally ‘topple’ the Springboks. Less than 24 hours after helping SA to their fourth Webb Ellis Trophy, Jones has opened up on how to beat his soon-to-be former employers.

“With South Africa, it’s not just the title,” said Jones. “It’s bigger than that. There’s something bigger they’re playing for that I can’t articulate. Every team has a soul or a DNA, a style or a way of playing. Every nation and every country has something. The goal is finding out how to make that more tangible. The best teams tap into that.”

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England star makes RFU plea

England star Jamie George has pleaded with the RFU to get players involved in the hybrid contract situation before the final details are ironed out. The proposed changes will give Steve Borthwick more control over his squad ahead next year’s Six Nations.

“We just need a bit more clarity around them. It is hard for us because you hear the whispers and you might get excited about it, but at the same time we have to focus on the job at hand,” George said.

“What I do have is a huge confidence in Steve to make sure we get this right if those central contracts or playing contracts do come in.

“It could be a great thing for English rugby, but it has to be done right. Steve will do it in the absolute right way that does not take away from the club game because that’s something that means a lot to me.

“Hopefully there will be plenty of player influence as well because there are a lot of very intelligent guys in this changing room who have a lot of things to say and care a huge amount about the English game and its development.

“You can see that in the way that a lot of the older guys are speaking about the future of this team and hopefully the RFU use us and we will be heavily involved in those conversations.”

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