For a man on the brink of matching rugby’s world record winning run, England coach Eddie Jones cut an irritable, tetchy figure during a news conference that left everyone wondering what he will be like when he loses a game.
Victory for the defending Six Nations champions over Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday would take England’s winning run to 18 – matching the tier one record set by New Zealand up to last year.
Jones has been responsible for 16 of those victories in a dream first 15 months in the job but the last of them, against Italy two weeks ago, clearly still rankles.
The Australian was furious at Italy’s no-ruck tactic in that game and after pundits and ex-players were united in criticising his team for taking too long to adapt to it, he did not seem to have calmed down in the fortnight since.
“I thought we dealt with it fantastically well,” he said.
“There was someone confused in the first half and it wasn’t our players,” he added, presumably in reference to French referee Romain Poite.
Asked what he expected on Saturday and whether he had briefed his players to be ready for any similar twists, he said: “I know Scotland are going to participate in the spirit of the game, so we don’t need to worry about anything.”
Jones also appeared to be upset at stories suggesting that Billy Vunipola would be in the starting team based on photos of a tactics session on a whiteboard at the team’s training base.
“The Daily Telegraph picked him for us and we decided we’d change our minds,” he said of Vunipola’s selection among the replacements after his recovery from injury.
“We didn’t say he would play.”
Centre Owen Farrell received lengthy treatment for an injury during morning training but Jones, becoming more irascible with each question he faced, was in no mood for clarification.
“He could be in doubt, mate,” he said
“He’s got a bad leg, so he couldn’t finish training. I think he ran into my dog. I think he’ll be alright. He’s in doubt but we’ll see.”
Pressed for more detail on his key goalkicker, he said:
“I’m not going to tell you that mate. I’m sure you’ve got a long range camera and you can go into one of the rooms and find out.”
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Richard! I'd bet against it any time at all as the All Blacks have been the Number 1 side for over a 100 years and that won't change, so resources or whatever Eddie the Mouth has got at his disposal will matter not one bit as it should be realised that this team of All Blacks is regarded as the '' Best International Rugby Team'' to have ever played the game and even with that blip on the radar against Ireland it would never worry the Kiwis one bit and they know it! The Kiwis will play what needs to be played on the day!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Mania! That's the theory mate, to be the best, you must beat the best and that hasn't happened and I personally doubt it will! The only way the Poms will beat the Kiwis, is by goal kicking, that is their game and have had it and used it for years now, ~ in general play the Kiwis will shred them!
taylorman
Roar Guru
Nice, it's actually not too bad for England. They'll never match the ABs for the scoring side of the books because they don't usually put big margins on their higher ranked opponents, and play the tight game. Still expect them to get the record, and good luck to em, with the World Cup nicely timed for 2019 it's a good period to be chasing it.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Yesterday's result shows why you never meet a poor bookmaker.
Jock Cornet
Guest
It's 5.5 now I got on early
Adsa
Guest
Twelves is good Jock, I might suss that out myself.
Jock Cornet
Guest
Got Scotland for the triple crown 12-1 $50. Eddie is due for a fAll and we were robbed
PeterK
Roar Guru
fairly obvious why, they don't want england to match nz wins in a row. If they win this then most will be going for ireland the following game
ebop
Guest
How the streaks compare: Average points per game All Blacks - 41.7 England 32.9 Average margin of victory All Blacks - 27.6 England - 16.5 Tries scored All Blacks - 104 England - 65 Biggest win All Blacks - 62-13 over France England - 60-3 over Uruguay Closest win All Blacks - 20-18 over South Africa England - 19-16 over France Scored 30+ All Blacks - 15 occasions England - 9 occasions Held opposition to less than 14 All Blacks - 9 occasions England - 6 occasions Wins at home All Blacks - 8 England - 10 Wins away All Blacks - 3 (7 neutral) England - 7 Most impressive wins All Blacks - The Rugby World Cup knockout run against France, South Africa and Australia England - The series sweep in Australia. Average world ranking of opponent All Blacks - 6.6 England - 7.4 Wins against a top four ranked opponent All Blacks - 8 England - 5 http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11815697
richard
Guest
Rubbish.They will possibly turn savage with a series of losses.But one loss won't bother them.What you will get,depending on the nature of the loss, is the English press talking about it being the defeat that had to come.Watch this space.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Lot of history involved. Scottish ancestry, the "Celtic Fringe" sticking together......many other reasons too. English press don't help their national sides either.......they will turn very savage with a loss....as they did when Iceland were successful over England at soccer.........could have focused on what the win meant to the tiny nation.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
Everyone seems to be going for Scotland to win. Why for goodness sake would they wish this. England has been the top side for quite some time now and has shown under Eddie that they know how to win a game of rugby. I don't know why everyone is against Eddie, he suits the style of play that England require to win and is successful., so why do we all knock him for it. I for one hope that England is successful and win the 6 nations championship. They well and truly deserve it and so does Eddie Jones.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Yes, be interesting to see Eddie after a loss. Strange that he does not seem to have a huge following of friends ! Cotter and the Scots(players and the nation) deserve some good fortune and success.....good luck to them.
Canetragic
Guest
It'd be worth it just for the reaction from Jones ?
Riccardo
Guest
Reckon Scotland could surprise this weekend. Tough assignment at Twickers but Jones and his boys are due a loss and Cotter's lads have been impressive in spite of their lack of success at this venue.
Pinetree
Guest
It would be a big game for Scotland to win a Twickenham. Last time Scotland won in Twickenham was in 1983!
Jock Cornet
Guest
C'mon Scotland
WQ
Guest
Excellent comment mania, never a truer word spoken!
richard
Guest
With the resources EJ has at his disposal,would you bet against it? i.e staying at the top.
adastra32
Guest
Aaaah Eddie. As long as he can keep winning, he can say what the fnark he likes....only the journos are miffed. He's been very quiet this week.