Eddie Jones lets rip over England’s failed Sam Burgess experiment as he tips Ben Te’o to be a union hit

‘Burgess was part of England’s confused World Cup strategy… Te’o gives us something extra’ - Eddie Jones
David Rogers/Getty Images
Chris Jones8 June 2016

Eddie Jones today branded England’s failed attempt to turn Sam Burgess into a rugby union star a “non‑event”, as he broke his silence over what he really thought of Stuart Lancaster’s regime.

Jones also dismissed rugby league — a much bigger sport in Australia than it is here — as “not a skilful game”, which should ensure more controversy for the former Wallaby head coach during England’s tour Down Under.

It was Lancaster, supported by head coach Andy Farrell, a cross-code international, who insisted throwing Burgess into England’s World Cup campaign at the expense of Luther Burrell. The decision backfired on Lancaster and he was axed after England failed to get out of their pool, while Burgess headed back to league in Australia.

Jones took charge in December and recalled Burrell for the three-Test tour of Australia, which starts in Brisbane on Saturday.

The match could see the debut of Ben Te’o, another recruit from league, who played alongside Burgess in the 13-man game. Jones insists his new recruit is different to Burgess, having already proved himself in union. Te’o has been taken under the wing of skills coach Glen Ella, a former Wallabies full-back, and Jones claims the two seasons Te’o spent at Leinster make him a much better bet to succeed in union than Burgess.

Jones told the Brisbane Courier-Mail: “Burgess was a non-event in England’s confused strategy at the World Cup but he would have been an excellent Test player if he’d had the will to stick at it.

“Rugby league is not a skilful game, it’s a game where you’ve got to hurt people. Tough guys like Te’o bring something extra to a squad, a bit of an intangible, plus he has done the hard yards in 50-odd games for Leinster.”

Jones has used the annual three-match series in rugby league between Queensland and New South Wales as his litmus test for players who show the ability to move codes. “There is a massively high correlation between those who have been successful Origin players and then made a really good fist of rugby,” said Jones.

In Pictures: England rugby squad relax in the pool on Australia tour

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“If they haven’t done that there’s a huge correlation with them being average rugby players. That’s why I have high hopes for Ben Te’o. He’s cut it at the highest level of rugby league.

“Playing Origin means you can cope with the physicality of the most physical game in the world.

“I saw one clip where Ben took the ball to the line and threw a short pass after carrying through the line on his previous play. He can mix it up with a good short-passing game and can off-load in contact. He can hit.”

The make-up for England’s midfield for the First Test will be revealed tomorrow but Jonathan Joseph has suggested Te’o may have to wait another week for his opportunity.

Joseph is more likely to be paired with Luther Burrell or Owen Farrell in the First Test and he said: “Ben has settled in very well. He’s good to have around. He’s a great player who will give us some great go forward in the near future.”

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