sport news CHRIS FOY: Eddie Jones believed he'd get it right at the World Cup, but results ... trends now
Now the lights have gone out, Eddie Jones will be left with a deep sense of regret about being unable to complete his epic England mission. So near became so far.
What a ride it has been. Often glorious, eventually frustrating and baffling and declining, but never, ever dull. Jones is set to be sacked after almost exactly seven years in one of rugby’s hottest seats, having turned England back into a thunderous juggernaut, before running out of road.
Where to start? At the end. This had to happen, but the timing is far from ideal. No organisation can claim that any best-laid plans include a total overhaul nine months out from the biggest tournament in the sport — and barely two months before another important Six Nations campaign.
Eddie Jones is set to be sacked after almost exactly seven years in one of rugby’s hottest seats
Many will say the RFU should have acted sooner and that is what the results would suggest, but they wanted to believe in Jones and his conviction that he could win them the ultimate prize.
That’s the thing about him; the Australian was, is and always will be a powerful and persuasive character. Right up until he reached the precipice, he was adamant that he knew how to solve myriad problems which had hampered his team and how to drive England towards their global objective. But the evidence kept undermining his once-indisputable arguments.
Ultimately, there was no escaping the facts for ever. They appear to have caught up with Jones at last. England could only win five of their 12 Tests in 2022. Their last two Six Nations campaigns have returned four victories in 10 matches. They have become also-rans in Europe’s annual showpiece, which caused glaring doubts about what they could achieve next autumn in France.
The Australian began his England tenure with a record run of 17 successive Test victories
A series success in Australia in July briefly eased the pressure, but it ultimately served to paper over so many cracks. England prevailed Down Under with spirit and fight and sheer grafting determination, but without the flourishes to suggest that they were truly building another shiny edifice.
What happened last month was further proof that progress was still elusive for Jones. He was steadfast in supporting the 10-12 axis of Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell against a backdrop of external doubt, but elsewhere the selection wheel kept spinning.
England didn’t seem to have established a preferred line-up or a coherent masterplan. They lost to Argentina, thrashed Japan, snatched a draw against the All Blacks with a late rally, then collapsed against South Africa.
That final setback was the last straw for the RFU hierarchy, whose support for their head coach turned to dust in the face of a rare outpouring of unrest from the Twickenham stands. To hear the loyal hordes booing their team off the field after watching the weakened Boks win 27-13 hit home with the
