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England rugby head coach Eddie Jones made a “common-sense statement” by warning his Grand Slam winners not to expect to tour Australia, according to back-rower James Haskell.
Former Wallabies mentor Jones has already revealed he believes a nucleus of his England Grand Slam-winning side has struggled to reproduce that form since returning to their Premiership clubs.
Flanker Haskell hopes none of Wasps’ England contingent fall into that category, but admitted Jones had taken a shrewd move by keeping all his Test hopefuls on their toes.
Eyeing a scalp: Eddie Jones. Photo: Getty Images
Wasps will take on Saracens in Reading in Saturday’s Champions Cup semi-final, with Haskell insisting there is precious little time to sweat over the summer when trying to shut down the likes of Billy Vunipola at the weekend.
“I think it was a common-sense statement from Eddie, it’s something from a coach striving to get the best out of his players,” Haskell said of Jones’ comments.
“It is definitely difficult to have an emotional high of a Six Nations and come back and consistently perform. And you’re only as good as your last game.
“I said it myself as the name was being engraved on the Six Nations trophy, you can be written off straight away.
“It’s the same for every player, so I think Eddie’s just making sure no one’s under any illusions that you have to be at your best, have to look to play your best.
“He’s not spoken to the squad about that, he just understands that in the club environment you have to be the best you possibly can be, you have to keep playing and keep improving.”
England’s embark on a three-Test tour of Australia in June and Haskell has accepted Jones’ side must raise their level markedly to compete with 2015’s beaten World Cup finalists.
“It’s important to understand that while we’re making progress, yes the Six Nations was good, but were we good enough to compete with southern hemisphere sides? Arguably not at times,” said Haskell.
“Do we want to keep improving? Yes.”
PA
