Jones open to England approach

Editor

Current Japan boss Eddie Jones has revealed that he would be interested in coaching England should he be approached.

Jones has guided Japan to two wins so far in the Rugby World Cup and is due to take over as head coach for the Stormers next year in Super Rugby.

Stuart Lancaster's future is currently uncertain after England failed to beat Wales and Australia, consequently becoming the first host nation to ever be knocked out of a Rugby World Cup before the quarter-finals.

Jones admitted that the RFU faced a difficult decision when it came to whether they would retain Lancaster or not going forward.

The former Australia head coach added that England's young squad had "enormous potential."

"If England approached me, would I listen to them? Of course I would, but whether the RFU part ways with Stuart Lancaster is a big and difficult decision," Jones wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.

"A proper review is needed to find out why they changed strategy halfway through the tournament.

"A lot of time has been invested in to Lancaster and his squad have enormous potential, so he needs to convince the board that he can take those youngsters forward to 2019.

"He must show guys like Ian Ritchie that he will learn from his mistakes and, if he can’t do that, I think he should go.

"There will be a lot of contenders queuing up for his job, but it’s a case of deciding what they want and then finding that person."