The Barbarians have a storied history in rugby, with the team becoming one of the sport's great traditions since first being established in 1890. They always employ an entertaining style of play, with many of the best players in the history of the game lining out for them at one stage or another.
In saying that, they don't win that many games. Whenever they face top tier rugby nations, they usually come out on the wrong end of the scoreline. They certainly don't rack up over 50 points in a game, winning by 31 points in the process.
Until today, that is.
Eddie Jones used England's game against Barbarians as a final opportunity to get a look at some players ahead of naming his squad for the tour to Australia, and while the result was not necessarily the most important thing on this occasion, he certainly won't be pleased with how things would unfold at Twickenham.
Barbarians would run out as 31-point winners on a 52-21 scoreline. What's worse, the visiting side also did this despite having only 14 men for much of the contest after Will Skelton was sent off when they led by only three points.
To compound the misery on Jones, one of his former players in George Kruis would take the piss by scoring a back-heeled conversion in the second half.
If it wasn't bad enough for Eddie Jones that England lost by 31 points to Barbarians, but one of his former players also did this in the game 👀pic.twitter.com/98zMrP6Hka
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) June 19, 2022
This may not have been the most important of matches, but it has served to pile the pressure on an already heavily scrutinised coach.
England fans call for Eddie Jones sacking after Barbarians hammering
Public confidence in Eddie Jones has become increasingly shaky over the last couple of years, with England continuing to underperform despite the obvious playing resources at his disposal.
With Six Nations results continuing to disappoint and a World Cup just over a year away, many have had enough of the Aussie.
#ENGvBAR oh Gawd Eddie Jones had just blamed the ref for his "elite player group" having their butts handed to them by a crowd of hungover strangers.
The emperor is wearing no clothes.— Catherine Kavanagh (@KavanaghCk) June 19, 2022
So England get hammered by the Barbarians. A friendly I know and missing players from Saracens and Leicester but the side Eddie Jones put out was still pretty decent. RFU should be tapping up Shaun Edwards as head coach for post World Cup.
— Neil Fissler (@neilfissler) June 19, 2022
I know it's only a trophy match, but this #england performance agaisnt the #baabaa's is absolute shocking and yet another demonstration how Eddie Jones is killing this team.#engvbar
He has to go.— Si (@Si_81) June 19, 2022
Of course I'm shouting into a void, but it's cathartic. Eddie Jones has no business coaching England. The man is a rude, arrogant, toxic, clueless disgrace. His feeble coaching, abysmal man management and utterly chaotic selection is killing the national side.
— PeterOgden (@PeterOggers75) June 19, 2022
eddie jones team is a shambles!!!
sack him ffs the RFU https://t.co/DwJYixggap— steve , (@jujusimba7777) June 19, 2022
All with. Red card. Just when I think England can’t be worse they top themselves. Thanks Eddie Jones top notch team. https://t.co/3WhaDE33Ne
— Jeff Dalton (@jefferydalton) June 19, 2022
Perhaps Eddie Jones is the one who shouldn’t be on the plane to Australia #barbarians
— Andy Elvin (@Millinerstale1) June 19, 2022
Eddie Jones is destroying English rugby. https://t.co/8fOnAbUbqZ
— Jordan J MacGeever (@j_macgeever) June 19, 2022
Surely Eddie Jones has to consider his position after this debacle. #ENGvBAR
— Dr Johnny Bananas (@barbedquill) June 19, 2022
Eddie Jones is done. Regardless of what happens in Australia, soon as the tour is done; get rid
— Nick Murphy (@nickmurftweets) June 19, 2022
Eddie Jones is pissing a golden generation of English talent down the drain 🤯🤯 #ENGvBAR
— Henry (@henry_hh_95) June 19, 2022
Despite how poor things have been over the last couple of years, it seems unlikely that a coaching change is imminent. Eddie Jones certainly won't step aside himself, while the RFU kept him in the role after this year's Six Nations when it seemed like the best time to shake things up.
In saying that, how many more back-heeled conversions can the man survive?
SEE ALSO: Can Super Rugby Winner Jager Be Enticed Back To Irish Rugby?
