For the second year on the spin, England have had an absolute nightmare in the Six Nations. While they did finish third in the table, they did so with only two victories. Having lost to Scotland, Ireland, and France, it appears that they are slipping further away from the top teams in the competition.
That is bad news for the RFU with 18 months to go until the World Cup, leaving them with a decision to make on Eddie Jones' future.
This will likely be their final opportunity to make a coaching change before that event next year, with some believing the time for the Aussie to go is now. The team look to lack a clear identity and have been very tough to watch at times over the last couple of years.
Stephen Jones calls for RFU to replace Eddie Jones
Writing in The Sunday Times, journalist Stephen Jones called on the RFU to get rid of Eddie Jones, suggesting Warren Gatland or Clive Woodward as possible replacements.
The talk around Paris is that Jones stays because there is no one else. Not exactly a recommendation going into a World Cup.
If the RFU has not phoned Warren Gatland recently then they should have done. They are way too proud and pompous to have rung Sir Clive Woodward, but again, they should have. Gatland is available if they want him enough...
The Jones era has set back or ignored some great players — Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly, Danny Cipriani, Mako Vunipola, Dan Robson, Don Armand, Dave Ewers, Elliot Stooke, Alex Lozowski — these are just a flavour of the sheer number of players underplayed or who have not developed as they might have done.
Gatland? At present his reputation is on a downer because he did not win the British & Irish Lions tour. This, as we know, is a little bit like blaming the bricklayer for failing to build a wall without bricks or straw or mortar.
George North and Manu Tuilagi, had they been fit, would have ushered the Lions home by 3-0.
But that is not the point, Gatland is wise, consistent and sympathetic, he is also splendidly artful . He does not seek to be the main event. He is a great coach...
Jones claimed that things were moving in the right direction. Which of the ten directions is that?
They need action, right away. What they no longer need is Eddie Jones. That is now for certain.
Gatland would certainly be an intriguing option, although the suggestion that Woodward should be considered seems a bit odd. He has not coached since his spell with The Lion in 2005.
Regardless of who could be viewed as possible replacements, it is clear that there is a decision to be made on the future of Eddie Jones.
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