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Eddie Jones has challenged England to gain revenge for last year’s Six Nations defeat against Wales when the two sides meet this weekend, but batted away any questions regarding the coronavirus outbreak in an effort to avoid distractions of their cancelled finale next weekend against Italy.
The Six Nations confirmed on Thursday that all three games between Italy and England scheduled for the final weekend of the tournament have been postponed, with Jones’s side facing up to playing their encounter at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico later in the year along with the women's and under-20’s matches.
Jones refused to discuss the cancelled fixture in an effort to keep focus on Saturday’s Wales clash, and admitted that the painful memory of the 21-13 Cardiff defeat that cost them the title will be used as motivation this time around.
“Everyone’s focused on Wales,” insisted the England head coach. “We had a great training run yesterday, and the boys are excited about playing Wales. You’ve got to remember they beat us last year so we owe them one.
“They're a well-coached team, we know they've lost their last two so they'll come hard at us. That's the only thing we can talk about. The only thing we've got to worry about is playing Wales on Saturday. We don't think any other way.”
It will be the first time that Jones has come up against Wales without Warren Gatland opposite him, with Wayne Pivac taking over from his fellow Kiwi and leading the side to just one win from their first three games after losing to Ireland and France.
“They've lost two games,” Jones added. “They've got a new coach and they’ll want to make a statement on Saturday.
“Traditionally our games are very close and tight games so they'll come with a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of energy. They're two veterans (Ken) Owens and Alun Wyn Jones will lead the way and they'll be a tough team.
“They pass the ball a little bit more, but there isn't any great change at the moment - they're a still a very good team.
They were semi-finalists at the World Cup and to get that far you have to be a good team.”
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Created with Sketch.
1/31 England vs Ireland
England secured a 24-12 victory over Ireland to retain their hopes of Six Nations glory, but who were the standout players? Click through the gallery to find out.
Getty
2/31 England: Elliot Daly – 8
One of his best displays under the high ball and looked assured at the back, not to mention threatening going forwards as he took an early catch of Ford’s up-and-under. Refusal to give up on Ford’s chip bagged him the second try, and gave the side confidence whenever he got on the ball.
EPA
3/31 Jonny May – 6
Another who impressed aerially but hasn’t had the chances to score that we usually expect, which seems to stem from his move to the right wing. Should have had a penalty when Henshaw took him out chasing his own kick.
Getty Images
4/31 Manu Tuilagi – 7
The simple things like running and tackling make such an impact when it’s Tuilagi doing them, as he constantly went over the gain line and left a bone-crunching tackle on Stander.
PA
5/31 Owen Farrell – 8
Tactical kicking was excellent throughout and he boasted a 100 per cent record from the tee. Risked getting dragged into a brawl with Stander that was entirely his own doing with a touch of breakdown skulduggery, but his leadership really stood out as one of the decisive influences.
Getty Images
6/31 Jonathan Joseph – 7
Justified selection on the wing as he was defensively astute in taking high ball and even showed a nice turn of pace to beat opposite man Conway in a foot race.
Getty Images
7/31 George Ford – 8
Switched on to pre-empt Sexton’s mistake and pounce on the ball for the opening try and served up the second with a delicate chip for Daly to chase. Tactical kicking was excellent throughout.
EPA
8/31 Ben Youngs – 7
Lovely kick through caused panic for the Irish and produced the first try and also linked well with another chip for Joseph to chase and regather. His running threat does seem to have diminished though, and replaced rather early for Willi Heinz.
REUTERS
9/31 Joe Marler – 8
Make a rock solid start in the scrum by winning the first penalty and did a good job of managing Furlong, though guilty of conceding a penalty shortly after the restart. On the whole he was one of the standout forwards.
Getty Images
10/31 Jamie George – 7
Best performance of the Six Nations so far as the lineout functioned well bar one attacking five-metre throw, which was poached by O’Mahony. Showed his useful turn of pace out wide when Farrell released him in the first half. Another early departure.
Getty Images
11/31 Kyle Sinckler – 7
Had the chance to show his gifted handling abilities with a couple of offloads in the tackle, and defended astutely with a monster stop on Kilcoyne after he came on.
PA
12/31 Maro Itoje – 8
England’s pack leader by performance once again delivered a masterclass that riled Ryan and Stander to the point it put them off their game. Defensively brilliant, with his blitz on Aki leading to a turnover standing out as a particular highlight.
Action Images via Reuters
13/31 George Kruis – 7
Another good performance from the lock who is making the place his own at the moment, and given the wealth of locks at England’s disposal, that takes some doing.
AFP via Getty Images
14/31 Courtney Lawes – 7
Brilliant defensive effort but managed to offer much more with the ball in hand, which helped him to the man of the match award. Decision to start him at blindside flanker paid off with England at their most physically imposing.
Action Images via Reuters
15/31 Sam Underhill – 7
Two surging tackles stood out as he rushed up on the Irish possession, though England’s dominance with ball in hand diminished his standout qualities somewhat.
AP
16/31 Tom Curry – 7
Guilty of missing the tackle on Henshaw for Ireland’s first try, but overall he coped well and moved back to blindside upon the introduction of Ewels.
PA
17/31 Ireland: Jordan Larmour – 5
Made the mistake of not calling a mark in the build-up to the first try and picked up an injury early in the second half that looked to hinder him, before departing soon after for Keith Earls.
Action Images via Reuters
18/31 Andrew Conway – 6
Strong aerially as he gave Joseph and Daly something to think about but given little possession to work with, and found himself outgassed by Joseph in a foot race.
Action Images via Reuters
19/31 Robbie Henshaw – 7
A strong showing all things considered as he made the most incisive run of Ireland’s afternoon to score their first try. Has enjoyed his return to the international arena after injury.
Getty Images
20/31 Bundee Aki – 7
Made two powerful runs that got Ireland rare go-forward ball and secured a turnover on Lawes when the lock was isolated, though he also experienced similar when Itoje caught him deep in back-field.
PA
21/31 Jacob Stockdale – 5
Anonymous with ball in hand and guilty of once again dallying on his try line to concede points. Failed to learn the lessons from Dublin 2019.
PA
22/31 Johnny Sexton – 4
Made a very poor start to the match and it appeared to knock his confidence considerably. Dropped Youngs’ kick on the line that gifted a try to Ford, then spurned three very kickable points from the tee. Failed to get himself on top of the game and Ireland suffered as a result.
Getty Images
23/31 Conor Murray – 5
His kicking was impressive from hand to start with, but his long-range touch-finders didn’t give makeshift wing Joseph anything to think about as the ball kept sailing over him and into touch.
AP
24/31 Cian Healy – 5
Departed in the first half with a nasty-looking injury that left him in considerable pain, which he picked up deep in the breakdown. Replacement Dave Kilcoyne found himself on the end of a number of powerful tackles as he struggled with the physicality.
REUTERS
25/31 Rob Herring – 6
Felt the pressure at the lineout but that was largely to do with the number of jumping options England had, and all things considered he coped as well as he could hope.
Getty Images
26/31 Tadhg Furlong – 5
Struggled up against Marler as the more experienced prop won out in the scrum battle, and he provided very little go forward with the ball as Ireland struggled for possession.
AFP via Getty Images
27/31 Devin Toner – 5
Wasn’t able to leave his mark on the contest either in the loose or, more importantly, in the lineout.
AFP via Getty Images
28/31 James Ryan – 6
Tried his upmost to get Ireland’s defence firing and engaged in a fascinating head-to-head with Itoje that boiled over on more than one occasion, but came off as an obvious second best. Still, he was Ireland’s best forward.
AFP via Getty Images
29/31 Peter O’Mahony – 5
Stole one English lineout when the pressure was on but otherwise did little of note, and guilty of throwing a horror pass to Stockdale that resulted in a knock-on.
Getty Images
30/31 Josh van der Flier – 5
Fairly anonymous at the breakdown as he struggled to live with the pace that England played at. Replaced by Caelan Doris on the hour.
AFP via Getty Images
31/31 CJ Stander – 6
The sight of him topless and jumping onto Itoje as the two brawled was one of the more surprising incidents witnessed. Did well to get up from Tuilagi’s enormous tackle, and tried his best to take on the burden of Ireland’s carrying with little result.
REUTERS
1/31 England vs Ireland
England secured a 24-12 victory over Ireland to retain their hopes of Six Nations glory, but who were the standout players? Click through the gallery to find out.
Getty
2/31 England: Elliot Daly – 8
One of his best displays under the high ball and looked assured at the back, not to mention threatening going forwards as he took an early catch of Ford’s up-and-under. Refusal to give up on Ford’s chip bagged him the second try, and gave the side confidence whenever he got on the ball.
EPA
3/31 Jonny May – 6
Another who impressed aerially but hasn’t had the chances to score that we usually expect, which seems to stem from his move to the right wing. Should have had a penalty when Henshaw took him out chasing his own kick.
Getty Images
4/31 Manu Tuilagi – 7
The simple things like running and tackling make such an impact when it’s Tuilagi doing them, as he constantly went over the gain line and left a bone-crunching tackle on Stander.
PA
5/31 Owen Farrell – 8
Tactical kicking was excellent throughout and he boasted a 100 per cent record from the tee. Risked getting dragged into a brawl with Stander that was entirely his own doing with a touch of breakdown skulduggery, but his leadership really stood out as one of the decisive influences.
Getty Images
6/31 Jonathan Joseph – 7
Justified selection on the wing as he was defensively astute in taking high ball and even showed a nice turn of pace to beat opposite man Conway in a foot race.
Getty Images
7/31 George Ford – 8
Switched on to pre-empt Sexton’s mistake and pounce on the ball for the opening try and served up the second with a delicate chip for Daly to chase. Tactical kicking was excellent throughout.
EPA
8/31 Ben Youngs – 7
Lovely kick through caused panic for the Irish and produced the first try and also linked well with another chip for Joseph to chase and regather. His running threat does seem to have diminished though, and replaced rather early for Willi Heinz.
REUTERS
9/31 Joe Marler – 8
Make a rock solid start in the scrum by winning the first penalty and did a good job of managing Furlong, though guilty of conceding a penalty shortly after the restart. On the whole he was one of the standout forwards.
Getty Images
10/31 Jamie George – 7
Best performance of the Six Nations so far as the lineout functioned well bar one attacking five-metre throw, which was poached by O’Mahony. Showed his useful turn of pace out wide when Farrell released him in the first half. Another early departure.
Getty Images
11/31 Kyle Sinckler – 7
Had the chance to show his gifted handling abilities with a couple of offloads in the tackle, and defended astutely with a monster stop on Kilcoyne after he came on.
PA
12/31 Maro Itoje – 8
England’s pack leader by performance once again delivered a masterclass that riled Ryan and Stander to the point it put them off their game. Defensively brilliant, with his blitz on Aki leading to a turnover standing out as a particular highlight.
Action Images via Reuters
13/31 George Kruis – 7
Another good performance from the lock who is making the place his own at the moment, and given the wealth of locks at England’s disposal, that takes some doing.
AFP via Getty Images
14/31 Courtney Lawes – 7
Brilliant defensive effort but managed to offer much more with the ball in hand, which helped him to the man of the match award. Decision to start him at blindside flanker paid off with England at their most physically imposing.
Action Images via Reuters
15/31 Sam Underhill – 7
Two surging tackles stood out as he rushed up on the Irish possession, though England’s dominance with ball in hand diminished his standout qualities somewhat.
AP
16/31 Tom Curry – 7
Guilty of missing the tackle on Henshaw for Ireland’s first try, but overall he coped well and moved back to blindside upon the introduction of Ewels.
PA
17/31 Ireland: Jordan Larmour – 5
Made the mistake of not calling a mark in the build-up to the first try and picked up an injury early in the second half that looked to hinder him, before departing soon after for Keith Earls.
Action Images via Reuters
18/31 Andrew Conway – 6
Strong aerially as he gave Joseph and Daly something to think about but given little possession to work with, and found himself outgassed by Joseph in a foot race.
Action Images via Reuters
19/31 Robbie Henshaw – 7
A strong showing all things considered as he made the most incisive run of Ireland’s afternoon to score their first try. Has enjoyed his return to the international arena after injury.
Getty Images
20/31 Bundee Aki – 7
Made two powerful runs that got Ireland rare go-forward ball and secured a turnover on Lawes when the lock was isolated, though he also experienced similar when Itoje caught him deep in back-field.
PA
21/31 Jacob Stockdale – 5
Anonymous with ball in hand and guilty of once again dallying on his try line to concede points. Failed to learn the lessons from Dublin 2019.
PA
22/31 Johnny Sexton – 4
Made a very poor start to the match and it appeared to knock his confidence considerably. Dropped Youngs’ kick on the line that gifted a try to Ford, then spurned three very kickable points from the tee. Failed to get himself on top of the game and Ireland suffered as a result.
Getty Images
23/31 Conor Murray – 5
His kicking was impressive from hand to start with, but his long-range touch-finders didn’t give makeshift wing Joseph anything to think about as the ball kept sailing over him and into touch.
AP
24/31 Cian Healy – 5
Departed in the first half with a nasty-looking injury that left him in considerable pain, which he picked up deep in the breakdown. Replacement Dave Kilcoyne found himself on the end of a number of powerful tackles as he struggled with the physicality.
REUTERS
25/31 Rob Herring – 6
Felt the pressure at the lineout but that was largely to do with the number of jumping options England had, and all things considered he coped as well as he could hope.
Getty Images
26/31 Tadhg Furlong – 5
Struggled up against Marler as the more experienced prop won out in the scrum battle, and he provided very little go forward with the ball as Ireland struggled for possession.
AFP via Getty Images
27/31 Devin Toner – 5
Wasn’t able to leave his mark on the contest either in the loose or, more importantly, in the lineout.
AFP via Getty Images
28/31 James Ryan – 6
Tried his upmost to get Ireland’s defence firing and engaged in a fascinating head-to-head with Itoje that boiled over on more than one occasion, but came off as an obvious second best. Still, he was Ireland’s best forward.
AFP via Getty Images
29/31 Peter O’Mahony – 5
Stole one English lineout when the pressure was on but otherwise did little of note, and guilty of throwing a horror pass to Stockdale that resulted in a knock-on.
Getty Images
30/31 Josh van der Flier – 5
Fairly anonymous at the breakdown as he struggled to live with the pace that England played at. Replaced by Caelan Doris on the hour.
AFP via Getty Images
31/31 CJ Stander – 6
The sight of him topless and jumping onto Itoje as the two brawled was one of the more surprising incidents witnessed. Did well to get up from Tuilagi’s enormous tackle, and tried his best to take on the burden of Ireland’s carrying with little result.
REUTERS
Jones elected to make one additional change to the side that beat Ireland on top of the one he was forced in to, with flanker Sam Underhill ruled out with a head injury resulting in Mark Wilson’s return to the squad. The on-loan Sale Sharks forward has just one appearance for the club this season since joining from relegated Newcastle Falcons, having undergone knee surgery after the Rugby World Cup, but he joins Anthony Watson in returning to the starting line-up after recovering from injury.
Jones said: “Mark's had a hard route. He was great for us during the World Cup. He's a terrific team man. He's had to go through a knee operation and rehab but he's come back in, is fit and full of beans and has added a lot of energy to the team.”