Former England head coach Eddie Jones says Saturday’s defeat to Ireland brought back memories of the bitter end of his own time in charge. The atmosphere at Allianz Stadium reminded him of Twickenham after his last game.
England came into the Six Nations hoping to win their first title since 2020, but back-to-back heavy defeats, including a loss to Scotland in round two, have put their campaign in jeopardy.
Some home fans left the stadium early against Ireland, and fly-half George Ford was ironically cheered for finding touch after earlier mistakes.
Feeling the Weight of the Loss
“I felt sick at the end of the game,” Jones said on his Rugby Unity podcast. “The stadium felt half-empty, the sky grey, and the fans who stayed seemed ready to vent. It was an eerie feeling.”
Jones left England after a 27-13 loss to South Africa in November 2022, and he was sacked ten days later after winning just five of 12 matches that year.
Looking Too Far Ahead
Jones also suggested that England head coach Steve Borthwick made a mistake before the tournament by publicly talking about aiming for the title.
“Steve made comments about the France game that were unusual for him,” Jones said. “Looking too far ahead can be dangerous. Players, their partners, even families read it. Suddenly they start thinking about hotels, dinners, tickets for Paris, instead of the game in front of them. That small shift in focus can affect a team.”
France currently leads the Six Nations with maximum points, while England faces a crucial match against Italy on March 7. A loss there could leave them at the bottom of the table.
Leadership and Emotional Control
Jones believes England’s main issue is emotional control, which affects preparation and leadership on the field. “Sometimes it’s one player not fully committed, or a leadership gap. Any of these can cause a drop in performance.”
He stressed that team leaders need to pull everyone together, both on and off the field. He also questioned Borthwick’s decision to start Henry Pollock, a Northampton back row player.
Pollock’s Best Role
Pollock impressed by beating defenders, winning a turnover, and making the most tackles, but Jones thinks he’s more effective coming off the bench. “He’s like Bobby Skinstad—strong and athletic, but more suited to 20-minute bursts. Playing a full 80 minutes in the back row requires a grind, and that might not be his game.”
