Having Your Cake And Eating It

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This week Eddie Jones was quiet, infact he changed things up with one or two word answers not wanting to create anything. When asked by reporters what has made him change he said that the press jumped on certain sentences making a story.

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The problem I have with that is Eddie won't admit everything he has said has backfired on him and the team. Having players do your dirty work is also obvious so no misquotes this week before the Irish game. I do believe someone from up top has had a quiet word in his ear saying enough is enough as it could be embarrassing if they lose this week after another war of words.

The English still have an opportunity of finishing second on the table if they can put the Irish and Welsh away over the next two weekends. Eddie is not alone though as the Welsh had a go at the French this week before their game yesterday. We all know the Welsh lost yesterday so how much did they benefit?

Highlighting an area that you are worried about like the scrum saying that the opposition cheats has been used by teams for years and is nothing new. Getting the attention of whoever is officiating by giving him something to read in the press has worked before as the gullible officials take it hook line and sinker.

Maybe the Welsh were hoping for Jaco Peyper instead of an Englishmen blowing the Whistle. Peyper blows the game between Irealnd and England today.

When the officiating didn't go the Welsh teams way yesterday the coach came out saying the big calls didn't go their way. He was probably right, but your team needs to play above those marginal calls. A team cannot rely on the bounce of a ball or a ref calling a certain way because it suits them. You have to play to the whistle and study the referee understanding how he blows. This is a specialist position on it's own and is very important.

We have seen the New Zealand teams cheating for years and the referees seem to be blind to their tactics. All everyone wants is a fair game without all the hoo hah of accusations and a war of words before a match. The game is bigger than that and it isn't needed.

Teams have risen above that level and if a coach is stupid enough to open his mouth all he is doing is adding ammunition for the other coach to use to fire up his troops. Eddie is scared of the Irish this week and that is the reason why he has kept quiet. This game is very important to both sides and he chose to keep quiet concentrating on his coaching duties.

Maybe taking something that the French have showed us already this season is that they are a team of "mates" and don't care what others say.