Felix Jones has resigned as England’s defence coach in a shock improvement that continues the latest upheaval to Steve Borthwick’s backroom employees.
Jones has been an necessary determine for England since his recruitment 10 months in the past from South Africa, who he helped win again to again World Cups beneath the steerage of Rassie Erasmus.
The 37-year-old former Eire worldwide was accountable for introducing the blitz defence that was beginning to bear fruit after some teething issues early within the Six Nations. Its aggressive nature troubled New Zealand in July when England fell to slender defeats in Dunedin and Auckland.
Though Jones has handed in his resignation, the PA information company understands his contract accommodates a 12-month discover interval that will maintain him in place till subsequent summer time if triggered by the Rugby Soccer Union.
Information of his shock departure comes within the wake of the top of energy and conditioning, Aled Walters, dropping an equally surprising bombshell by defecting to Eire.
Walters was an influential voice on the coaching subject whose involvement prolonged past his S&C duties and he was joined by means of the exit door by Tom Tombleson, a long-serving member of the conditioning employees.
The uncertainty surrounding the England administration crew contains Kevin Sinfield, the rugby league nice who was demoted to abilities coach to accommodate Jones’s arrival.
Sinfield was poised to step down after the latest tour to Japan and New Zealand however his reputation amongst the gamers, in addition to his expertise, was seen as too priceless to lose. Nonetheless, an extension of his keep and in what capability has but to be confirmed.
Jones’s need to go away is known to be linked to Walters’ departure, with the 2 forming a robust working relationship whereas serving beneath Erasmus with Munster after which South Africa.
However the churn of backroom employees – a damaging theme of the Eddie Jones period – additionally asks questions of Borthwick’s strategies.
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The assault coach Richard Wigglesworth, scrum coach Tom Harrison and training guide Andrew Strawbridge at the moment are the one confirmed members of Borthwick’s administration crew heading into the autumn.
The All Blacks’ go to to Twickenham on 2 November opens a schedule that continues with fixtures towards Australia, South Africa and Japan and it stays to be seen if Jones might be concerned.
Borthwick will see the event as an enormous setback having repeatedly hailed the influence made by Jones, whose data he has described as “groundbreaking”.
