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‘He’s been their most successful manager in HISTORY’: Steve Hansen casts doubt on England’s ‘quite surprising’ decision to sack Eddie Jones… with Steve Borthwick’s replacement having less than a year to prepare for World Cup World
England’s decision to part with the services of Eddie Jones has been described as “quite surprising” by two-time World Cup winner Steve Hansen.
Jones was sacked as England head coach by his RFU boss Bill Sweeney after leading his team to just one win in a disappointing November campaign.
On Monday, Steve Borthwick was confirmed as Jones’ successor with less than a year to go until the 2023 World Cup. Borthwick has no time to waste as he looks to kick-start his England era.
Eddie Jones was sacked as England head coach after a disappointing campaign in November
But Hansen, who won the World Cup with New Zealand in 2011 and 2015 and is a longtime adversary of Jones, has questioned whether Sweeney’s call was the right one.
Hansen said: “It was quite surprising that (the RFU) replaced him (Jones) now, when Eddie has been saying ‘Look, this is what we’re building for.
He has been their most successful coach in history. Some might say that (Sir) Clive (Woodward) is because he won a World Cup. However, the record speaks for itself, doesn’t it?
“I know Eddie had great focus at the World Cup and that’s probably what it cost him because he didn’t have a good autumn and people were frustrated about it.
“But obviously it’s their business and they have to do what they think is right. Eddie has moved on, so the rest of us can too.
Steve Hansen said the decision was “quite surprising” with less than a year to go until the World Cup, as he also called Jones England’s “most successful manager ever” over Sir Clive Woodward.
Steve Borthwick, former assistant to Jones, now has to prepare England for the World Cup
England won 18 successive Tests under Jones, but their performance slipped after they reached the 2019 World Cup final, where they were beaten by South Africa.
Borthwick, a former assistant to Jones in both England and Japan, is now the man in charge.
Since being sacked by England, Jones has maintained that he was managing as well as ever and that his World Cup plan was on track.
The Australian has already confirmed that he will make a dramatic return to Twickenham on May 28 next year when he coaches the Barbarians at the home of English rugby union.
The Jones’ Barbarians team will face a World XV led by Hansen.
The last time the two met was in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup in Russia. England produced one of the best performances of the Jones era, beating Hansen’s New Zealand 19-7.
Jones will make a dramatic return to Twickenham when he coaches the Barbarians next May.
“You enjoy every opportunity to face Eddie,” Hansen said.
We’ve known each other for a long, long time and he’s a good rugby player.
“He cares a lot about the game, and I consider myself someone who cares about the game, too.” It is an opportunity to be able to be part of something that could be very special on the day.
“With Eddie, you have to expect the unexpected because one of his great attributes is his ability to analyze the opposition and set them up. He is a great planner, which is why he has been so successful with so many teams in different World Cups, having won one with South Africa.
“Obviously, he was building towards 2023 and now he won’t be there, which is unfortunate for him.”
But being the man he is, he’ll move on quickly. He will still want England to do well.
“He’ll want to come to Twickenham at the end of May and play some good football and he’ll also want to win because he’s quite a competitive guy.”