- Hurricane whips up bitter US election battle
- Cameroon bans media talk of president's health amid rumours
- NFL MVP Jackson and rookie phenom Daniels set for showdown
- Chad's capital under threat as floodwaters rise
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit central Beirut
- No answers on strike on reporters in Lebanon one year on: watchdog
- Ramharack picks four wickets as Windies beat Bangladesh in Women's T20 World Cup
- France's City of Light switches to climate-resilient power cables
- Djokovic hails Nadal 'legacy' as Alcaraz in 'shock' over retirement
- Obama hits campaign trail for Harris
- Delta eyes Election Day travel pullback as profits climb
- Djokovic tells Nadal: 'Your legacy will live forever'
- Ethel Kennedy, wife of RFK, dead at 96
- Zelensky denies ceasefire with Russia under discussion on trip
- Florida battered by hurricane, floods but spared 'worst-case scenario'
- After long fight for glory, Nadal leaves with a legacy of memories
- Home hopes Zheng and Wang through to last-eight in Wuhan Open
- UN peacekeepers say Israel fired on Lebanon HQ, injuring 2
- UK's William and Kate in first joint public engagement since cancer treatment
- Alcaraz out as top players pay tribute to Nadal at Shanghai Masters
- Racing's Farrell 'not thinking' about British and Irish Lions
- Alcaraz, Sinner pay tribute to 'unbelievable' Nadal at Shanghai Masters
- Over 200 women in legal talks with Harrods over Fayed abuse claims
- After K-pop, K-novels? South Korean Nobel win sparks joy, hope at home
- After Nadal exit, Djokovic left to rage against dying of the light
- A very stiff breeze: BBC says sorry for 20,000 kph wind forecast
- Triple centurion Brook happy to break Dad's club record
- Zelensky touts 'victory plan' against Russia in Macron talks
- Musk finally unveiling his long-promised robotaxi
- UN peacekeepers accuses Israel of firing on Lebanon HQ
- London's Frieze art fair goes potty for ceramics
- Southgate taking year out from coaching
- US, Europe stocks fall on US inflation data
- Zelensky meets Macron in Paris as part of European tour
- Hurricane Milton shreds Florida stadium roof
- UN probe accuses Israel of seeking to 'destroy' Gaza healthcare
- US consumer inflation eases to 2.4% in September
- England in sight of victory after Brook's triple hundred
- Juventus readmitted to ECA after failed Super League revolt
- World number 2 Alcaraz knocked out of Shanghai Masters by Machac
- Leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia meet amid regional tensions
- Klopp's Red Bull decision 'ruined life's work' say Dortmund fans
- Han Kang wins South Korea's first literature Nobel
- S. Korea's Nobel winner Han Kang a modest, thought-provoking writer
- Hurricane Milton tornadoes kill four in Florida amid rescue efforts
- The almost impossible job: Beating Rafael Nadal at the French Open
- New French government faces key test with budget plan
- Rescuers say Israeli strike on Gaza school kills 28
- Italy's ex-world champion gymnast Ferrari announces retirement
- Zelensky talks 'victory plan' in meeting with Starmer, Rutte
RBGPF | 4.03% | 63.35 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.12% | 24.55 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0% | 6.9 | $ | |
SCS | -3.58% | 12.58 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.08% | 24.7 | $ | |
BCC | -2.49% | 138.93 | $ | |
NGG | 0.42% | 65.91 | $ | |
RIO | 0.79% | 66.875 | $ | |
GSK | -2.72% | 39.175 | $ | |
AZN | -0.85% | 76.85 | $ | |
RELX | -0.69% | 46.39 | $ | |
BCE | -1.6% | 32.785 | $ | |
BP | 1.13% | 32.345 | $ | |
JRI | 0.03% | 13.224 | $ | |
VOD | -0.26% | 9.705 | $ | |
BTI | -0.75% | 35.215 | $ |
RFU back Jones to oversee England revival after Six Nations slump
Eddie Jones was given the support of his bosses after saying he could revive England's fortunes ahead of next year's World Cup following a disappointing Six Nations that ended in defeat by Grand Slam champions France.
The 25-13 reverse at a raucous Stade de France on Saturday meant that, for the second year in a row, England -- one of rugby's best resourced nations -- had lost three out of five matches in a Championship campaign.
The long list of injuries Jones had to contend with this season only partially explained a poor campaign.
Jones is contracted to take England to the 2023 World Cup in France after which the 63-year-old Australian coach has previously said he intends to step down.
"Am I pleased with the job I'm doing?," Jones said Sunday. "I'm not pleased with the results.
"Do I think I'm coaching well? One hundred percent. I think I'm coaching well and sometimes you don't get the results."
Asked if there was time for an England revival prior to France 2023, replied: "One hundred percent."
Pressed on his own position, Jones simply looked ahead to England's tour of his native Australia in July.
"My concern is to coach the team really well and the only thing I'm worried about is preparing for Australia," he said.
But a spokesperson for Jones' paymasters at England's governing Rugby Football Union said later Sunday they continued to "fully support" the veteran coach.
Jones and his backroom staff would now conduct a "full review as is normal after each tournament".
"The RFU continues to fully support Eddie, the coaching team and players and we are excited about the summer tour and the progress to rebuild a winning England team," the spokesperson added.
- 'Rebuilding' -
Jones, the coach of an Australia team beaten by England in the 2003 World Cup final in his home town of Sydney, took England to the climax of Japan 2019 -- where they were overwhelmed 32-12 by South Africa.
The bulk of that side then helped England win the 2020 Six Nations -- the third title of a Jones era that started with a 2016 Grand Slam.
But the coach is adamant a new-look squad is now required.
"I've coached for long enough to know this is all about rebuilding a team," he said.
"Look at the French team, it took them three years to win the Six Nations Championship (after the 2019 World Cup).
"We've rebuilt the side from the last Six Nations," added Jones following a Championship where England finished third compared to last year's lowly fifth.
"I think the progress is very positive and I couldn't be more excited about the prospects for this team."
England, however, were outscored three tries to one by France and they managed just eight tries in total compared to Les Bleus' 17 during this Six Nations.
"We definitely need to improve our support play and we need to improve our finishing," said Jones.
"We got in France's 22 (metre area) seven times. They got in our 22 five times, but they executed at 80 percent. We executed at about 45 percent -- and that's the difference in the scoreline."
But Jones added the likes of novice half-backs Harry Randall and Marcus Smith would be much improved come the World Cup.
"We've got 12 Tests before the World Cup and if you look at that, it means guys like Marcus and Harry are going to increase their Test experience by 100 percent in that period.
"I think the timing for our team going into the World Cup is very good."
P.M.Smith--AMWN