England are ‘living in cloud cuckoo land’, blasts Lawrence Dallaglio as 2003 Rugby World Cup winner slams Eddie Jones’ side for having ‘serious fault lines’ within their setup after a disappointing Six Nations campaign
- England finished third in this year’s Six Nations in a campaign of disappointment
- England won two matches and lost three for the second-straight Six Nations
- Lawrence Dallaglio has blasted the RFU and Eddie Jones for their positive views
England Rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallagilo has ripped into the current team and its management, lambasting them for living in ‘cloud cuckoo land’ after another underwhelming Six Nations campaign.
Despite winning just two matches for a second straight campaign, the RFU have supported head coach Eddie Jones, saying England made ‘good progress’ and ‘strong positive steps’.
However, ex-England captain and 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Dallaglio disagrees with the governing body stating that there are ‘serious fault lines’ within Jones’ setup.
‘He [Jones] has tried to paint the rosiest of pictures, but it’s a disappointing campaign for England,’ he said on his Evening Standard Rugby Podcast.
‘If it hadn’t been for Italy’s victory [over Wales], England would have probably finished lower down the table. It is another losing campaign that didn’t start well and didn’t finish well.
‘There are some serious fault lines in that team and that squad and anyone who doesn’t think there is, is living in cloud cuckoo land.
England have ‘serious fault lines’ within their setup, blasted ex-captain Lawrence Dallaglio
Pressure is mounting on head coach Eddie Jones (right) after another poor Six Nations season
‘To score only two tries in three games and generally play the way they have played, fans have got every right to ask the question.
‘We have heard in an RFU statement, no name to it as usual, they think this England team is making solid progress and they were suggesting that Eddie is building a new team against their clear strategy. I would argue I haven’t seen a hugely clear strategy.
‘Eddie seems to think that they are only three per cent off where they need to be. I was never good at maths, but I know they’re a long way away from being three per cent off.’
For a second-straight campaign the Red Rose lost more matches (three) than they won (two) – with Jones’ side this time finishing a distant third behind Grand Slam winners France and second-placed Ireland.
England bookended their campaign with an opening defeat at Scotland before going down 25-13 to France in Paris on Saturday.
With the Rugby World Cup taking place in France in 18 months’ time, scrutiny is increasing on the England setup and especially Jones’ management.
England lost three matches during this year’s Six Nations for the second season in a row
Dallaglio says England are ‘living in cloud cuckoo land’ about their abject Six Nations display
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