Eddie Jones and Vern Cotter have engaged in a round of verbal sparring in the build-up to England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Both coaches have installed their rival’s team as favourites for the Edinburgh showdown on Saturday week with Jones arguing the Scots’ performance at the World Cup identifies them as the form team in Europe.
The 55-year-old compared England’s dismal showing at the global showpiece, in which they failed to qualify for the knockout phase, to Scotland being denied a place in the semi-finals by an erroneous penalty decision.
“Remember that photo that was sent around during the World Cup? It was of an English gentleman trying to get out of the pool and he couldn’t do it,” Jones said.
“Well Scotland made it out of the pool and nearly got to the semi-final. The difference in performance at the World Cup was enormous.
“Both teams will have had two weeks to prepare so the advantage that Scotland has is massive, but they have to carry that pressure of favouritism which is something they probably aren’t used to.”
Jones is known for his willingness to probe for opposition weaknesses through mind games and Cotter responded by expressing his surprise that the Australian has resorted to this measure.
“I don’t know how Eddie works that out. It’s just a psychological lever that he’s trying to use, to take the pressure off himself,” the Scotland head coach said.
“I gather that England are still ranked ahead of us by World Rugby. I didn’t think England would need that, I thought they would be comfortable with the favourites’ tag.”
Jones sees the set-piece as England’s foundation, but uses the case of Stoke City to illustrate why his team will also approach the Six Nations with a level of ambition.
“It’s all about mindset. Every time you attack there is a risk involved. If you want to play like the old Stoke City then that’s the safest way to play isn’t it?” Jones said.
“Just stick the ball in the air, chase hard and get everyone to clap. If you’re not a strong side you can guarantee a close game.
“There’s a fascinating book on soccer – Soccernomics – it’s all about the data on soccer.
“It shows that teams which have done really well by playing high balls are teams that minimise the amount of time the ball is in play.
“It makes sense – minimise the time the ball is in play and it minimises the time the other team have to score.
“Rugby is exactly the same. Every time you run with the ball or pass the ball you are taking a greater risk than if you kick the ball.”
“We don’t want to be reckless. But we don’t want to be like an old Stoke City either – I know they are different now.”
Jones revealed it was Jonathan Joseph’s experience that earned him the nod ahead of Elliot Daly in the matchday 23 named for Murrayfield and described Owen Farrell, who has been earmarked to start at inside centre, as “one of our toughest nuts”.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Agree Chaz, in fact I prefer all of England's away games in this competition, attending or otherwise - we just bring out the passion from the opposition, fans and players, when we go to their place. Call it hate or history or tradition, I don't care - I just absolutely love it! Not expecting a classic first up either and I can see a lot of mistakes. However, many Scots sides in the past have taken an approach of making it difficult for England to play their game rather than expressing their own - and made a good job of it, even if the resulting competition wasn't necessarily the most flowing. However I think this side of Cotter's may be more of the latter which hopefully will see more ambition from both sides. Finding this too hard to call but as always, England have the cattle, if only they can be used.
Machooka
Roar Guru
TM... thanks for the invite for a wager against me, and the Old Bugger. Could I make a wee suggestion as the stakes you mention are pretty much a joke. A gentlemen's bet, between gentlemen, should always be a dollar... and as the NZ dollar ain't so much of a joke compared to the Scottish pound, it is compared to the Aussie dollar. So would an Aussie dollar be acceptable in this case... look forward earnestly to your reply. Hey OB... I'll lend you one if you can't get your hands on one... yep, I'm that sort of a guy :)
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
I'd have to pick the bones out of which of those two assertions is the most ridiculous. Nah, dead heat.
Squirrel
Guest
Until your back row are quicker than your front row you will continue to get punished by all comers. Scotland by 20
Old Bugger
Guest
For me, its just looking at the pros v cons. Its a home game for Scotland; the Scottish crowd will be beying for blood since their last match; EJ has made substantial squad changes whereas VC has a settled team; I acknowledge England will be looking to redeem themselves but half the squad aren't tarred by the RWC brush and last but not least, it's just simply time for the tartan army to shove the thistle up someone's back-side....it won't matter who that someone is.....the Scots just need to do it, for their own redemption. If they don't, the memories of their 2015 RWC QF, will linger for a few more seasons not unlike what happened to the ABs post-2007. But you never know - worse things have happened on the rugger field. So, good luck and a pound it is......cheers mate.
Taylorman
Guest
Ok chook and OB we've a good old fake Scottish pound on it then! Yes the ingredients are there for a Scot win where my view is its plain old Complacency vs Backs to the wall, and in that respect England have the biggest room for improvement. Scots 'could' be lulled into a false sense of security from their World Cup 'success' and the protection of the home ground, where England are fighting to redeem themselves of a hugely embarrassing 2015. In terms of straight out motivation, I think that sits with England. Of course the Scots want to beat England, as they always do. They may smell fear, but that could be their Achilles for this match. England won't be bringing a knife to a gunfight this time.
Taylorman
Guest
No Nokia, but has either got one of these? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jSKhTM8zyCQ
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Yeah, except when you have players like Youngs and Lawes on the park you actually have the two most dynamic and fastest in their respective positions of any International forward of any flavour. You still have a Nokia, don't you.
Dublin Dave
Guest
Funny he should mention a book "all about the data of soccer" This is certainly a fad of the moment with many pundits keen to "Americanise" the thinking on soccer by producing as many meaningless stats as possible and pushing the line that an intimate knowledge of such data makes them reliable and insightful commentators. Only last night I was listening on the radio to John Giles, one of Ireland's greatest soccer players, the midfield general of the great Leeds United team of the 1960s and now, in his 70s, perhaps an even better pundit. He was talking about the importance of positional awareness and how many of the great players appeared to have so much time and space on the ball largely because they had anticipated where the ball was likely to be in the immediate future and got themselves into the best position to receive it. "The thing is," he said. "Not too many pundits talk about this nowadays because there isn't a 'stat' for it!" Never were the limitations of statistical analysis more pithily exposed. :)
Chaz
Guest
I love this fixture, especially in Edinburgh. Two of my most painful rugby memories are in '83 at Twickenham (the last time the Scots won in London and I was there- how unlucky is that) and the 1990 decider, yet in a masochistic way I'm quite glad they're still fresh. I don't want England to win 10 on the trot, I just don't (and I mean really badly) want them to lose next week-end. England have got one or two really talented young players- I'd expect Slade, Itoje, Daly, Brookes and Clifford (all of whom would look comfortable in most SR teams) to all feature Down Under in June and later on in the 6N- it's just a shame that only one of them is in Saturday's squad. I suspect that it will be a pretty cagey affair first time out, but I think the quality will improve significantly as the tournament progresses.
Squirrel
Guest
Yeah love the 6 nations , c'mon Scotland give a highland thrashing by smashing Farrell and destroying the slow cumbersome English forwards
Iaian
Guest
Come on my Scotland !!!! You showed at the RWC what you can do.
Machooka
Roar Guru
OB... I've said it before in other threads that the game between these two has tweaked my interest more so than I can probably remember. The ingredients, one being the coaches, are numerous and hence bodes well for an enthralling encounter. And bugger me as I hadn't thought in terms, as you've put regards Deans, and what it will be like for my Wallaby (and supporters) to play England when they tour here with Eddie at the helm. I get what you're on about now. I'd never really thought about it, now, or then, when we were playing your Black when Deans was our coach. Fascinating. Hey, it's all good and just adds another ingredient. Bravo sir!
Old Bugger
Guest
Chook I agree - if there's ever gonna be a time for the "cabre to be tossed into the middle of Murrayfield", then that time is February 6, 2016. I'm sure there's a lot of WB fans who will be hoping that EJ's reign gets off to a tough start and gets even more tough before, the tour down under. Then, the WB fans will understand the anxiety of facing an opponent who is coached, by a home-grown lad who just happened to be a previous WB coach. Not unlike a certain AB coach who crossed, the ditch.
Kiwi in us
Guest
Mind games or not. I love six nations.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Well, not exactly the rest mate. Suspect they'll be a few Englishmen holding out for a win .....
Machooka
Roar Guru
Maybe TM... but I think your countryman Cotter has other thoughts as to what his Scotland team has install for England. If ever there was a time for the Scots to beat England it's now... and it's also at Murrayfield.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Think we are going to see a good old England backlash here. World cup pressure off, a new coach and energy and damning critics all around them, a chance to show what they can really do. Jones is saying some really good down to earth, cards on the table stuff. All I can picture is his smiling face at the end of this.
Machooka
Roar Guru
... alas also the tight-fisted Scotsman :)
wardad
Guest
Oh one does indeed hope the wee Scots can pull off a victory over the English ,any victory over the English always puts a smile on even the the most granite faced Scotsman .