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Eddie Jones downplays England's money woes ahead of Six Nations

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24th January, 2019
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Eddie Jones has warned though England may be broke off the field they will be brutal on it in their pursuit of Ireland’s Six Nations rugby crown.

Jones and Warren Gatland met for a curry in London on the eve of the tournament’s launch in south-west London, with England’s head coach revealing the Wales boss picked up the bill.

“We chatted about rugby, the state of New Zealand rugby, the state of Welsh rugby, the state of English rugby,” Jones said.

“He (Gatland) was paying the bill because we’ve got no money.”

England’s first assignment is against Ireland in Dublin and although Twickenham has reported annual losses of £30.9 million ($A56.6 million), Jones insists his title contenders are ready to sweep all before them.

“Ireland are the best team in the world and when we play them at their home it will be a brutal game. Every Six Nations game is brutal.

“Traditionally, if you look at Six Nations history over the years, it’s a big gain-line contest.

“The ball-in-play time is higher in the Six Nations than any other tournament in the world. You’ve got to be prepared for it. We’ll be prepared.”

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The 2019 Six Nations shapes as the last for Jones, Gatland and Ireland’s Joe Schmidt with their contracts up after the World Cup, but England’s boss insists the potential loss of three coaching greats will have little influence on how the Six Nations unfolds.

“All the teams are focused on training well and how they can be at their best for the first game,” he said.

“No one is thinking, ‘this is going to be his last game, what are we going to do special for him?’.

“We’re talking about the most highly motivated, most professional players in Europe playing for their countries. They don’t need special things to want to be better.”

When asked if he would miss the Six Nations, Jones said: “I might be in it for another 10 years, who knows? I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

© AAP

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