Eddie's new role as pre-match fluffer

[Dan. Dan. Dan.]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/ ... usal-level

I always find Eddie's purposeful bs quite funny. But this is another level!
Does he not realise the other teams are playing in the same stadium?

[Mikey Brown]

I thought Jones didn’t buy in to having to motivate the players for test rugby? I always figured that was a big part of why he loves Faz in the first place. He’ll do his mr motivator thing and Eddie can rest easy.

I do think though it might be more difficult/distracting to be in your home stadium and not get that lift you’re used to, whereas the away team are probably pretty pleased?

[Oakboy]

As ever, he can always find excuses. Preparation, motivation, frame of mind . . . what is the right expression and where do the relative factors overlap?

When England, under Jones, play well, it is right from the first whistle. In many games, having not started well, the team has still ground out a win - until the infamous RWC final defeat. Since then, the players seem to have in-built doubts in their collective ability.

I have no firm opinion on why but I think it is fair to question whether Jones needs to alter some 'set-in-stone' ideas. For example, if he keeps Daly in should he simply swap positions with Watson? Should any of the Saracens players be in other than Itoje? Should Farrell stay as captain or even be in the 23? Should Bill y V be in? Etc.

What I/we think on that is neither here nor there but what if the opinion of the majority of the players is drifting that way? I think there is indecision during games individually and collectively. Maybe, it's rustiness or maybe it's the start of losing faith.

[Digby]

On the one hand it's interesting, on the other it's weird. Take for instance the line on Liverpool and they're suffering reduced arousal levels similar to England rugby, and you might think well okay but also the players are mentally fatigued from playing so long without a break and not because of their being no crowds, physically fatigued from playing such high intensity systems and training being so high intensity and there are a number of injures.

To the extent it's weird it could again just be Eddie getting his name in the paper with a daft story, essentially seeing that as better to ongoing criticism of his side

[Dan. Dan. Dan.]

Definitely the latter. Especially as the whole article is 'endorsed by Umbro' nonsense. I think Eddie comes up with this stuff as classic, get the media off the players back, stuff. And I don't really have a problem with that. He's essentially just using the most meaningless bit of data he's been given from games to say 'look over here guys'.
On Farrell, whilst I doubt very much that the media turning on him will motivate Eddie to get rid. It might be enough for Gatland to leave him out, which might then make Eddie rethink, especially if Ford is picked. All this of course is in the magic land where we are having a Lions tour this year!

[jngf]

Jones is increasingly parodying himself