Eddie Jones rugby news LIVE: England coach sacked with Steve Borthwick lined up as replacement
The RFU told the England coach his fate this morning and means they will need to appoint a new man nine months before the World Cup
Eddie Jones has been sacked as the head coach of England less than a year out from the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick set to replace him.
The Rugby Football Union decided to part ways with the Australian after seven years in charge, following a review of England’s dismal autumn results. An RFU statement confirmed the news, saying: “Following a review of the Autumn, Eddie Jones has been dismissed from the position of England Men’s Head Coach. In the interim, Richard Cockerill will take over the day to day running of the men’s performance team.”
Jones has recorded the best win rate of any England head coach but results had taken a turn as they entered the final year of the World Cup cycle. The dismissal is not without precedent as, in 2006 - just a year before the World Cup - Andy Robinson was relieved of his duties after autumn losses to New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa, with England going on to make the final of the following’s year’s global showpiece.
The current version of England were booed off following their 27-13 defeat to South Africa last month, their sixth loss of 2022, and the team have recorded their worst set of results since 2008 this year. It is now expected that Borthwick will take the helm with just nine months until the World Cup. A former England captain in his playing days, Borthwick led Tigers to the Gallagher Premiership title last season after taking over the role in 2020, having served as England’s forwards coach under Jones for five years from 2015.
Follow reaction to Jones’s sacking with our live blog below:
The key questions after Eddie Jones is sacked by England
So where did it go wrong?
The first real fault line emerged in 2018 in the form of a six-game losing run that brought with it a fifth-place finish in the Six Nations, but cracks had already started appearing.
The extraordinary churn of backroom staff had begun – evidence of his demanding and attritional management style – and he was equally happy to pick fights in public, calling out players, coaches, club owners and media.
During the 2018 tour to South Africa he was warned about his conduct by Twickenham chiefs and, not for the last time, the mood music from behind the scenes was of a coach close to the sack.
The key questions after Eddie Jones is sacked by England
Was he not a success to start with?
Unquestionably. The early days were dizzying – a Grand Slam in his first Six Nations in charge, a 3-0 series whitewash of Australia and a world record-equalling 18-Test winning run were glorious validation that the RFU made the right call.
All this was achieved with virtually the same players who had bombed so spectacularly at the home World Cup in 2015. Everything he touched turned to gold.
The key questions after Eddie Jones is sacked by England
Eddie Jones has been sacked after seven turbulent years as England head coach that have produced highs and lows in equal measure.
Here we answer the key questions surrounding his reign.
Why was Jones appointed?
The stars aligned for the veteran ‘super-coach’ at the 2015 World Cup as Japan’s unprecedented success, headlined by a stunning upset of South Africa, coincided with England’s failure to reach the knockout phase for the first time.
Having appointed the inexperienced Stuart Lancaster in 2012, the Rugby Football Union then sought his opposite – a seasoned campaigner with a proven track record in the international game. Enter Eddie Jones.
The highs and lows of Eddie Jones’s rollercoaster England tenure
Eddie Jones has been sacked as England head coach in response to a dismal autumn with the 2023 World Cup fast approaching.
Lows
The wheels come off, 2018
Everything Jones initially touched turned to gold, but the cracks began appearing in the shape of a five-Test losing run – six if the defeat in the non-cap international against the Barbarians is included.
World Cup final, 2019
A week after scaling the heights by toppling champions New Zealand, England collapsed to a 32-12 defeat by South Africa in the final. From the start they looked incapable of putting a dent in an inspired Springboks team.
Six Nations fifth-placed finish, 2021
For the second time in the Jones era, England finished fifth in the Six Nations, mirroring their performance in 2018. Jones reacted by axing some of his old guard, yet within the year most of them were back.
The highs and lows of Eddie Jones’s rollercoaster England tenure
Eddie Jones has been sacked as England head coach in response to a dismal autumn with the 2023 World Cup fast approaching.
Highs
Grand Slam, 2016
Jones’ reign began with fireworks as he masterminded England’s first Grand Slam since 2023 and first Six Nations title for five years using the same players who had crashed to a group exit at the World Cup just months earlier.
Series whitewash of Australia, 2016
As part of a record-equalling 17-Test run, Australia were crushed 3-0 on a tour that saw Jones at his combative best. The Wallabies were World Cup runners-up having lost to New Zealand in the final just eight months previously.
World Cup semi-final, 2019
England delivered one of the finest performance in the nation’s rugby history by flattening New Zealand 19-7 in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup. Never has a 12-point victory been so emphatic.
WATCH: Eddie Jones sacked by England
Eddie Jones has been sacked as the England men’s head coach by the Rugby Football Union. After seven years, the Australian has been axed following a review of the side’s dismal autumn results.
Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick is tipped to step into his shoes, less than a year away from the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Jones has the best win rate of any England head coach, leading the team to the World Cup final in 2019 as well as a Six Nations grand slam in 2016. Recent results, however, have been the worst recorded since 2008.
Richard Cockerill to take temporary charge
With Jones’s sacking, Richard Cockerill - who was forwards coach under the Australian - will take over the day-to-day running of the team.
Cockerill is merely a placeholder for the expected appointment of Steve Borthwick as the next permanent coach, of course.
The RFU statement read: “The Rugby Football Union (RFU) will now conclude the long-term work it has been undertaking on coach succession planning with changes set to be announced in the near future.
“In the interim, Richard Cockerill will take over the day to day running of the men’s performance team.”
Bill Sweeney ‘grateful’ to Jones
RFU CEO, Bill Sweeney, expressed his gratitude at Jones’s work over the past seven years in charge.
“It is important to recognise the huge contribution Eddie has made to English rugby, winning three Six Nations Championships, one Grand Slam and taking us to a Rugby World Cup Final,” said Sweeney.
“He has the highest win ratio of any previous England head coach and has helped develop the leadership skills of many players and coaches.
“I am grateful to Eddie for all he has done for England across many areas of the game and the professional way in which he has approached reviewing the performance of the team. He has provided the panel with astute insight and meaningful lessons that will support the team performance going forward.”
Eddie Jones ‘pleased with much’ he achieved
Just a short comment from Eddie Jones in that RFU statement, confirming his dismissal - perhaps unsurprisingly.
Jones said: “I am pleased with much that we have achieved as an England team and I look forward to watching the team’s performance in the future.
“Many of the players and I will no doubt keep in touch and I wish them all well in their future careers.”
Eddie Jones sacked as England coach after dismal autumn results
Eddie Jones has been sacked as the head coach of England less than a year out from the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick set to replace him.
The Rugby Football Union decided to part ways with the Australian after seven years in charge, following a review of England’s dismal autumn results.
Jones has recorded the best win rate of any England head coach but results had taken a turn as they entered the final year of the World Cup cycle.
The dismissal is not without precedent as, in 2006 - just a year before the World Cup - Andy Robinson was relieved of his duties after autumn losses to New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa, with England going on to make the final of the following’s year’s global showpiece.
The current version of England were booed off following their 27-13 defeat to South Africa last month, their sixth loss of 2022, and the team have recorded their worst set of results since 2008 this year.
Eddie Jones sacked as England coach after dismal autumn results
Jones has been fired after seven years in charge, just 10 months before the World Cup, with Steve Borthwick set to take over
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