Jones Must Go?

The good thing about England losing their opening match in the Six Nations is that it gives the Overgraduate an excuse for a sustained and thoughtful whinge. Indeed just to make sure that you, dear reader, are not short-changed the OG was thinking about it all the way through his run in a biting wind this morning.

I used to be able to find it in my mind to be amused (if only occasionally) by Eddie Jones. Now, I'm afraid, I just find him tiresome. And I think there may be something of the Mourinho Effect manifesting itself here - an obsessive student of the game getting left behind. Professional sport is ruthless.

Now here's the first thing that has to be said, indeed should be shouted from the rooftops - Scotland played really well. They have a coach who has learned some difficult leassons, they have a core of committed players and a sufficient smattering of genuine world-class. Mind you, a less generous referee might have sent Finn Russell off for his egregious trip. No matter. Scotland thoroughly deserved their victory.

Having given Scotland their due, we have to ask why were England so bereft of gumption? Here's a few clues. The core of the side was stuffed with Saracens players who have not played for two and a half months. Billy Vunipola (a player I love) looks like a busted flush. Jamie George was in need of a run. Maro Itoje - I exempt from the criticism - he is a force of nature and was, by a country mile, England's best player. Owen Farrell is stellar from the kicking tee but could breathe no fire into the back-line. But most glaring of all is the continued presence of Elliot Daly at full-back. I know he's blindingly quick and has a siege-gun left boot but he's useless under or in pursuit of the high ball, and his tackling technique is over-committed and next to worthless - just take a look again at the build-up to Scotland's try. 

Most unusually there is a sane and fair analysis by Matt Dawson today - Matt Dawson - in which he gives the Scots their due. Finally, can someone tell me what Sam Simmonds has done to offend Eddie Jones? Number Eight is a specialist position and Simmonds is currently England's best practitioner.

Sack Jones? Not yet but at present we're going backwards.