‘A little man with a chip on his shoulder’ – Danny Cipriani weighs in on Eddie Jones environment during his England tenure
Eddie Jones with Danny Cipriani during their time together with England.
Former England international Danny Cipriani has labelled Eddie Jones a “little man with a chip on his shoulder” when asked his view on the under-fire coach.
Jones was in charge of England between 2015 and 2022 and during that period there was a high turnover of people under his stewardship, particularly coaching staff.
Cipriani was not a significant part of the Jones project despite impressing on tour against the Springboks in 2018, as the Australian looked elsewhere for his fly-half.
‘Chip on his shoulder’
It seemed apparent there was a clash of opinions and playing style between the pair and Cipriani has opened up on their relationship when speaking to Sky Sports.
Cipriani, who has since hung up his boots, was speaking on the back of former England scrum-half Danny Care comments that Jones was like a “dictator” in charge.
“I don’t think it has come as a surprise to anyone because of the way he held his press conferences and the way he was when he spoke to people,” said the ex-Wasp.
“I was never terrified of Eddie. I just saw him as a little man with a chip on his shoulder.”
Cipriani continued that he believed that the England players during Jones’ tenure had to play by the coach’s rules or risk being sidelined by the now Japan head coach.
“He was very resistant to anyone who had a difference of opinion to him so everyone in that squad had to do (what he said) and say ‘yes sir, no sir and three bags full sir’ and for me that wasn’t something I was willing to do… to bend my truth just to get a cap in that moment,” he explained.
"I was never terrified of Eddie" 👀
Danny Cipriani reflects on his time under Eddie Jones at England 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/SHU0t1xXBE
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) November 13, 2024
“For me I’m not surprised by what Danny’s said and fair play for him for coming out and saying it.”
He concluded: “To be honest coaches like that are the ones, especially in rugby, are limiting the sport and making people not want to take part.”
