Eddie Jones cannot even pop out to a cafe without being told his side must raise their game considerably to beat Ireland. When his local barista, as allegedly happened this week, starts expressing doubts about England finishing the Six Nations with a flourish, it is small wonder Jones is labelling Ireland as “red-hot favourites” before Saturday’s showdown at Twickenham.
Even allowing for a whiff of artistic licence, Jones’s account of the conversation will certainly raise a wry smile across the Irish Sea. “The girl says: ‘That Irish team must be good. All their ex-players think they’re going to win and all the ex-England players think they’re going to win. They must be pretty good. How you feeling?’ I said: ‘Just give me the coffee please.’”
