Eddie Jones, now at the helm for Japan, recently shed light on the current state of rugby giants, notably France's Antoine Dupont, who seems to have lost a step post-injury. On the Rugby Unity podcast, Jones dissected Dupont's performance following his comeback, tying it to France's nail-biting 48-46 victory over England in Paris, a win that clinched the Six Nations title for the French.
"I reckon he’s still an outstanding player, but he’s going through that sort of post-ACL where you’re a different player," Jones commented about Dupont. The dynamism once synonymous with Dupont appears dimmed, "He’s still adapting to a major injury, and so he’s not the force he was."
"He’s not the force he was."
Turning his critique towards England, Jones didn't mince words about their dismal performance in the tournament, losing four out of five matches, including a shock defeat to Italy. Under Steve Borthwick's leadership, England has struggled to maintain a consistent game plan, though they've experimented with different strategies. "England’s identity as a rugby team – I think they’re still struggling to find it," Jones assessed.
He further elaborated on Borthwick's vision, suggesting a disconnect between desire and execution. "I think Steve knows how he wants to play, and he knows the players he wants."
"England’s identity as a rugby team – I think they’re still struggling to find it."
Additionally, Jones voiced his thoughts on the evolving nature of rugby, sparked by high-scoring games and elaborate celebrations. He questioned the long-term implications of these trends on the sport. "Is this the way we’re going to have rugby in the future? Is that what we want – tries, a lot of tries, big scores, players celebrating?" He noted the influence of social media on the game's direction, hinting at a need to adapt regulatory interpretations accordingly. "It’s all about social media. And if that’s the case, that’s good. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing at all, but let’s make sure that we adjust the way we interpret the laws."
Jones's insights highlight a critical juncture for rugby, as it grapples with entertainment value and traditional play, alongside the challenges faced by top-tier players returning from significant injuries.
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Eddie Jones, now at the helm for Japan, recently shed light on the current state of rugby giants, notably France's Antoine Dupont, who seems to have lost a step post-injury. On the Rugby Unity podcast, Jones dissected Dupont's performance following his comeback, tying it to France's nail-biting 48-46 victory over England in Paris, a win that clinched the Six Nations title for the French.
"I reckon he’s still an outstanding player, but he’s going through that sort of post-ACL where you’re a different player," Jones commented about Dupont. The dynamism once synonymous with Dupont appears dimmed, "He’s still adapting to a major injury, and so he’s not the force he was."
"He’s not the force he was."
Turning his critique towards England, Jones didn't mince words about their dismal performance in the tournament, losing four out of five matches, including a shock defeat to Italy. Under Steve Borthwick's leadership, England has struggled to maintain a consistent game plan, though they've experimented with different strategies. "England’s identity as a rugby team – I think they’re still struggling to find it," Jones assessed.
He further elaborated on Borthwick's vision, suggesting a disconnect between desire and execution. "I think Steve knows how he wants to play, and he knows the players he wants."
"England’s identity as a rugby team – I think they’re still struggling to find it."
Additionally, Jones voiced his thoughts on the evolving nature of rugby, sparked by high-scoring games and elaborate celebrations. He questioned the long-term implications of these trends on the sport. "Is this the way we’re going to have rugby in the future? Is that what we want – tries, a lot of tries, big scores, players celebrating?" He noted the influence of social media on the game's direction, hinting at a need to adapt regulatory interpretations accordingly. "It’s all about social media. And if that’s the case, that’s good. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing at all, but let’s make sure that we adjust the way we interpret the laws."
Jones's insights highlight a critical juncture for rugby, as it grapples with entertainment value and traditional play, alongside the challenges faced by top-tier players returning from significant injuries.