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What has Eddie Jones said about England and the RFU in the past?

Japan coach Eddie Jones in good humour during a Japan Press Conference at the Hilton Hotel on September 21, 2015 in Brighton, England
Image: Eddie Jones in good humour at a Japan Press Conference during the World Cup

Eddie Jones has been unveiled as England coach, but what was he saying about the England team and it players in recent interviews?

We look back on some of his quotes from around the media during and after the World Cup.

The man in charge at Twickenham slammed "silly" England for their handling of Sam Burgess, while saying that captain Chris Robshaw is "OK, but not outstandingly good in any area".

On Sam Burgess: (November 2015)

England head coach Stuart Lancaster (right) and Sam Burgess after the Rugby World Cup win over Uruguay
Image: England head coach Stuart Lancaster (right) and Sam Burgess after the World Cup win over Uruguay

"You have a guy who comes from rugby league and you ask him to play in two completely different positions - how silly is that?

"No one can play in those two positions, and no other teams in the world of rugby try to do that."

On the reaction to beating South Africa at the World Cup: (September 2015)

"Twenty million people watched the Scotland game. That's the population of Australia including all the kangaroos."

Live International Rugby Union

On Chris Robshaw: (September 2015, Daily Mail)

Chris Robshaw and England suffered a crushing loss to Wales on Saturday night
Image: Chris Robshaw leaves the field after suffering a loss to Wales

"Chris Robshaw wears No 7, but he is a six-and-a-half at best.

"He's not hard over the ball and he's not quick. He's a useful player but he's not an out-and-out openside flanker.

"Robshaw is an outstanding club player but at international level he just doesn't have that point of difference.

"He carries OK, he tackles OK, but he's not outstandingly good in any area. I think that is his limiting factor..."

Jones rules out Top 14 stars
Jones rules out Top 14 stars

Eddie Jones rules out selecting France-based players

On captaincy: (October 2015, BBC Radio)

"The first thing you have to do for the captain is to make sure he is going to be in the team."

On Steffon Armitage: (September 2015, Daily Mail)

Toulon flanker Steffon Armitage is tackled by Racing 92's Henry Chavancy
Image: Toulon flanker Steffon Armitage had plenty to offer England according to Jones

"Steffon Armitage is pretty hard and handy over the ball and would definitely bring that quality to the England side.

"Ben Morgan and Tom Wood don't play over the ball, and Robshaw only half does it."

On Central Contracts: (October 2015, ESPN )

Wales players celebrate victory after the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Wales at
Image: Wales players celebrate victory after beating England at Twickenham

"How can you manage your players when they are controlled by other organisations?

"In my opinion, that's the single greatest task ahead of whoever is going to be appointed as the next England coach.

"Wales, Ireland and Scotland - unlike England, Italy and France - all have centralised contracting systems, the union controls the players.

"As a consequence, they produced competitive teams and vibrant performances at the recent World Cup."

On Stuart Lancaster: (November 2015, Reuters)

Stuart Lancaster, Head Coach of England walks away from the pitch during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Australia at Twickenham
Image: Stuart Lancaster walks off the pitch after the loss to Australia that dumped his side out of the 2015 World Cup

"You know, England pick a rookie coach to coach a home to at a World Cup. When you're a home team, the pressure on that coach is enormous.

"Every union that's successful, every national team that's successful, has a guy that's experienced."

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