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Eddie Jones tips England win in first game without him

3 minute read

Eddie Jones is gone but not forgotten in England, as the Wallabies boss has popped up to tip his old side will win their Six Nations opener against Scotland.

England just can't quite escape the shadow of their old mentor Eddie Jones.

Just when Twickenham bosses thought they could get on with Saturday's Six Nations Championship without any input from their former coach who's now back in his green-and-gold element with the Wallabies, Jones has popped up to offer his prediction for his old team's first game without him.

The good news for England fans? Jones, not sitting on the fence as usual in his new podcast titled EDDIE, reckons they'll win their Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland on Saturday by three points, courtesy of a penalty from his former captain Owen Farrell.

So Jones, whose last outing at Twickenham before he got sacked by RFU chiefs in December ended in boos from fans unhappy about the turgid defeat by South Africa, fancies his successor Steve Borthwick will end up celebrating his first match in charge.

That will be more than Jones himself managed two years ago at the same venue when the Scots won for the first time at HQ for 38 years.

But it seems Jones still remembers being burnt by the excellence of Finn Russell that day as he predicts the result will hinge on how the mercurial Scottish five-eighth performs.

"He (Russell) gives Scotland an outstanding chance to win," Jones said.

"It also means that if England get on top, Scotland will probably get hammered because he will keep taking risks under pressure and will give England more opportunities to score."

Of the game's coaching battle between his former assistant Borthwick and Scotland's Gregor Townsend, Jones added: "They are two very good coaches - Steve is methodical, Gregor more wants to do different things, wants to play the game differently."

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