Eddie Jones is reportedly expecting to lose his job as the coach of the England rugby union team. The 62-year-old will have a crunch meeting with RFU bosses early next week following a string of poor results for the national side.
The Australian has had the support of the RFU since he took over in November 2015, but it has certainly wavered recently due to a disappointing autumn campaign. Although no decision has been made on Jones’ future yet, the Australian is fearing the worst, according to MailOnline.
RFU Chief executive Bill Sweeney will make a recommendation to the RFU board on Tuesday, after which a decision will be finalised. An urgent and forensic inquest is ongoing following just one win in November and an annual return of just five victories in 12 Tests. Last Saturday England lost 27-13 to the reigning world champions South Africa who were missing some of their best players at Twickenham on Saturday.
The dismal defeat occurred despite South Africa's Thomas du Toit being red carded with 20 minutes left to play. Former England coach Clive Woodward, one of Jones' most vocal critics, has questioned his position at the helm. "England are not just losing, they are going backwards at an alarming rate of knots," he wrote in the Mail.
"As England coach you need to care very much what people think. The RFU have to start getting tough on Jones. He needs to feel some serious heat from his employers. I would say to him: 'Forget the next World Cup, if you lose your next game against Scotland in the Six Nations you're out of your job.' If Jones has to get paid off and we need to raise the money for that to happen, then so be it.”
Now the 2003 World Cup winning coach, whose side beat Eddie Jones’s Australian team in that dramatic final, has identified his preferred replacements. Woodward believes Gatland's fellow New Zealander, Crusaders boss Scott Robertson, is the only standout candidate for the role alongside Irish great Ronan O'Gara.
"I’m not sure how this ends for Jones but it doesn’t look good," he said. "If the RFU decide to change things, the only person who would make me go, ‘Wow’, would be Scott Robertson.
“He would bring some stardust and a different culture to England which is much needed. He would be my No 1 choice. Ronan O’Gara is second, but it seems he’s staying at La Rochelle. But even if Robertson is appointed, it won’t solve the murky RFU’s leaders."
Jones remains determined to keep coaching and is keen to lead England into the 2023 World Cup in France - but his hopes are hanging by a thread.
