‘Everyone hates England’ – Jones

Editor

England Head Coach Eddie Jones has told his side to use the hatred from their Irish and French rivals to their advantage in their Six Nations title chase.

The Australian wants his players to use the hostility directed at them as a driving force to perform when they face defending champions Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

“Maybe Clive Woodward summed it up best when he said everyone hates England — that’s true,” said Jones.

“Because of the history that is involved with the social and historical context, there is that long-seated rivalry and hatred of England, you can feel it.

“I’m not going to use it, but within the side they can use it.

“As I said when I took over, I’m not English, I’m Australian, but I will be absolutely committed to them.

“I’m not going to talk to the players about things I don’t understand, I only talk to them about things I do understand, but we have got staff that can do that. 

“And if we think it is appropriate we will.”

The Round Three clash will be Jones’ first match as England coach at Twickenham and the former Australia and Japan boss said he prefers to focus on what happens in the game rather than filling the changing rooms with historical posts of past matches, as done previously in an attempt to generate team culture.

“The whole week we spend trying to get it right on the field.” he added.

“The dressing room is 40 minutes before the game.

“To me it’s not insignificant, it’s important, but it’s not something I’ll be staying up at night worrying about.”

Jones also revealed his reason for shying away form pre-match speeches and shifting his focus to on-field delivery.

“You go back to the (former New Zealand coach) Graham Henry situation when Tana Umaga was All Blacks captain.

“After five games Tana went up to him and said ‘Graham, do you think your speeches are really having a good effect?’ “And Graham said to Tana ‘yes I do, what do you think?’. Umaga said no. And then Graham never made a pre-game speech after.

“To me, it’s not a significant part of our preparation, it’s what we do out here on the field during the week that will count.

“That’s what counts on the inside.”