Eddie Jones promises England overhaul and warns next World Cup squad could be ’60 per cent’ different
EDDIE JONES says his England squad could be ‘60 per cent’ different once the 2023 World Cup rolls around. The Red Rose head coach signed a contract extension with the RFU last week to see him through to the next global rugby spectacle in France. Jones, 60, steered England to the final last year in […]
EDDIE JONES says his England squad could be ‘60 per cent’ different once the 2023 World Cup rolls around.
The Red Rose head coach signed a contract extension with the RFU last week to see him through to the next global rugby spectacle in France.
Jones, 60, steered England to the final last year in Japan, where they lost out on glory to South Africa.
And the Aussie has admitted the current crop will need a massive shake-up if they are to lift the Webb Ellis Cup in 3½ years’ time.
Jones said: “I don’t think this group can have another World Cup in them.
“While there will be core members of the team who will be able to continue to the next World Cup, there will be a new influx of members coming in.
“If you look at the squad this year, we have changed it by 20 per cent.
“There will be another 20 per cent change in the second year and another 20 per cent in the third year.
“By the time we get to the World Cup it could be 40 per cent of the squad from the 2019 World Cup and 60 per cent new members.”
Jones showed he was not afraid to ring the changes by axing experienced stalwarts such as Mike Brown, Danny Care and Chris Robshaw before Japan.
Regular captain Dylan Hartley was also left out due to injury.
In their place came a swathe of talented 20-somethings including Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Lewis Ludlam and Jack Singleton.
As a result, Jones produced the youngest team to ever reach a World Cup final.
The England boss faces more big decisions ahead of the 2023 tournament.
Key men Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Owen Farrell and Jonny May will all be in their early 30s by then, while the likes of Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes will be 34.
For Lawes, Youngs and Dan Cole — 36 by the time of France 2023 — it would be their fourth World Cup.
Jones said: “That’s how you get the growth in the team — you have to continually look for better players and players who can add value.
“We were the youngest team ever to play in a World Cup final.
“If those players have the desire and want to keep working and improving then we are going to be in a good position because we are going to have a hell of a competition for spots.”
Jones’ contract extension has gone down well with the England squad.
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Back-up scrum-half Willi Heinz — who made his World Cup debut under the coach — said: “All I can say on behalf of the squad about Eddie is that we love the environment he creates.
“He’s certainly the best coach I’ve played under in terms of attention to detail and the support he provides.
“The players have a ton of respect for him and one of the things I’ve really noticed since being involved are the one-on-one relationships he seems to have with guys in the squad. He puts so much time into it.”