EDDIE JONES, England rugby coach.
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It hasn’t taken long.
Jones insists there is still plenty of improvement to come and believes England will reach their peak in time for the next World Cup in three years’ time.
“It’s fantastic to get a Grand Slam and fantastic to win the Six Nations, but we want to be the number one team in the world. I thought in the first half we sat back a little bit, and were probably more anxious about the result than playing, and the second half we were much more positive in the way we played”. It’s a nice first step for us but it’s only a small step because we’ve got much larger steps to go. We can’t now but we will in the future.
“We understand there are tougher things to come, but if we stay humble and grounded and keep working hard and enjoying each other’s company, then this team can go places”.
Jones recalled a time when he was head coach of Australia, and had to contend with less than ideal pre-match preparations for a Test against South Africa.
Less than four months since officially taking charge of England Jones has turned the team from World Cup failures to a multi-silverware winning unit with an average age of just 24.
“After enjoying their Grand Slam moment, England have to start thinking really big”, Woodward wrote in his column in the Daily Mail. “Owen Farrell and George Ford knew exactly what they needed to do and that shows the growth of the team”, Jones said.
The scoreline did not seem to bother the home side, who persevered with their expansive game as they continued to pressure the English defence.
“I am very proud of the boys”, said coach Jones.
“We’ve been wanting it for a while and we’ve had some heart-breaking times, so to get it makes it even more special”.
“I’m sure he will be all right to play shortly”, Jones said.
The only sour note for England was a late injury to captain Dylan Hartley, who was carried off on a stretcher with his neck braced, but returned to lift the trophy at Stade de France. Billy Vunipola broke off the back of a scrum to take England into the France half, Youngs’s sniping run maintained the momentum and his kick towards the corner was fielded by Watson, who held off Wesley Fofana to score.
Wales coach Warren Gatland has made several changes, with Dan Lydiate captaining Wales after the New Zealander decided there was no point in rushing first-choice skipper Sam Warburton’s return from a concussion suffered against England.
However, Hartley has proven himself to be a strong leader and a responsible captain over the course of the Six Nations, guiding England to Grand Slam glory.
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“[Assistant coaches] [Paul] Gustard and [Steve] Borthwick have done fantastic work, and they must be congratulated for their efforts”.
