Jones worried about Lawes’ health with player likely to be out until Six Nations

Eddie Jones has admitted he is worried about the health of Courtney Lawes due to an ongoing head injury and does not expect the Northampton flanker to return to England before the Six Nations this year next.

Lawes hasn’t played for Northampton since suffering a head injury on September 24 and despite being named in England’s initial training squad last month he has stepped down after suffering a setback. The 33-year-old has been dropped from the England squad to prepare to face Japan on Saturday, after missing Sunday’s loss to ArgentinaNorthampton confirming it remains at the same stage of return to play protocols for head injuries.

Earlier this year, Lawes spent six weeks on the sidelines after a head injury, eventually returning halfway through the Six Nations and revealing the issue was eventually diagnosed as a problem with his vestibular system, which has left him caused symptoms such as persistent headaches and impaired vision. caused by the “headache”.

He has won the England captaincy in their last three Six Nations matches as well as the australia summer tour but another lengthy layoff with a head injury is cause for concern. “I’m worried about his health at the moment; that he is back to 100% health,” Jones said.

“But these things have a natural course – some heal faster than others. If it takes a little while, the most important thing is his health and he’ll get back to rugby when he’s ready. He needs a rest now rather than feeling like you have to rush back. We hope he’s back for Six Nations and ready to go.”

Jones also sought to take responsibility for England’s miserable loss to Argentina, accepting that focusing on next year’s World Cup is costing him dearly, but showed no desire to change the game. approaches, predicting a fierce response from his players against Japan. “I want us to be angry [against Japan] and play with some kind of anger,” Jones added.

“I’m very disappointed with the last game. We weren’t good enough. It’s totally my responsibility, I wasn’t coaching good enough. I think every time your team doesn’t play to the potential you want , there is always something in the message you give to the team that is not entirely clear.

“When I think about the game, we looked at a number of long-term strategies that we’re trying to employ to prepare for the World Cup. Maybe we weren’t focused enough on the match against Argentina. We seemed to lack a bit of energy at times, especially in attack. Maybe we think a little too much. It’s entirely my fault.

“There is a group of teams at the top of World Rugby, we want to break that group up, and to do that we need to have multiple ways to play the game. These next 11 months will be about getting enough equipment into our arsenal so that we can play any way.

Jones is set to chart England’s path to the World Cup next year with a third defense manager in less than two years following the announcement that Brett Hodgson will replace fellow Australian Anthony Seibold after the autumn internationals. Hodgson, as was the case with Seibold, arrives with no elite rugby union experience on his CV but will follow his compatriot in the coming weeks before taking the reins.

Hodgson has made over 200 NRL appearances and was most recently manager of Hull FC before stepping down in September. Jones has previously spent time with Hull FC and Hodgson has been a regular visitor to England camps, with the head coach once again turning to rugby league following the recent appointments of Seibold and Jason Ryles.

“He was a very experienced player, he understands the game very well, has a good coaching methodology and experience as a head coach, so he understands the pressures of being involved in coaching,” Jones added. . “He will come in and add his knowledge of defensive systems and his ability to help the back three players, especially in their positional play.”

Jones admitted he was “disappointed” to lose Seibold, who was only appointed in September 2021, but insisted he was happy to see him return to top-level training in the NRL where he will take charge of Manly Sea Eagles despite turning his back. -room staff continuing. Seibold replaced John Mitchell, with whom Jones locks horns again on Saturday now that New Zealand is part of Japan’s coaching staff.