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Eddie Jones has cautioned the Six Nations against expanding the competition after reveling in a wrestle between England and Scotland played in atrocious conditions.<\/p>\nEddie Jones has cautioned the Six Nations against expanding the competition after reveling in a wrestle between England and Scotland played in atrocious conditions.<\/p>\n
Tournament organizers have distanced themselves from a report stating South Africa would join a new extended format in 2024 after revealing the proposal has not been discussed.<\/p>\n
But calls to increase the number of sides involved persist with Japan and Georgia placed alongside the Springboks in being seen as suitable additions.<\/p>\n
England revived their title ambitions by reclaiming the Calcutta Cup in an ugly 13-6 victory that unfolded at a hostile Murrayfield and Jones believes tinkering with a winning format is ill-advised.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s called the greatest rugby tournament in the world and I think it is. So why would you want to add other teams that are going to decrease the level of competition,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can only talk from experience. Super Rugby was the golden egg of rugby \u2013 brilliant, 12 teams, competitive. As soon as it had gone to 14 and 15, it had lost its allure.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want the best teams playing against each other. There\u2019s something about the Six Nations \u2013 because of the history of the relationships between the nations, it makes it more outstanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone was giving me a history lesson on Scotland and the number of different things that have happened in the rivalry with England. So there\u2019s a lot of meaning to a lot of people for a game like this.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe competition is much harder contested than the World Cup. It\u2019s become a lot more physical and it\u2019s only going to get more so.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want this type of game every week, but southern hemisphere coaches certainly admire the Six Nations.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the first Six Nations I did to now, I think we\u2019ve seen a general rise in the quality of the teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cIreland, Wales, Scotland, England \u2013 they are all operating at a high level now. The gap between the teams is so small.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swirling wind and incessant rain brought by Storm Ciara destroyed Saturday\u2019s clash as a spectacle and prompted questions on whether more grounds should should the Principality Stadium in fitting a roof.<\/p>\n
But Jones, who saw replacement prop Ellis Genge pile over for the decisive try in the 70th minute, saw only positives as England relaunched their title quest six days after losing 24-17 to France in Paris.<\/p>\n
\u201cI loved it. Rugby is a winter sport. Until we make it a summer sport we should be playing in winter conditions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was fantastic. The players have got to adapt to the conditions and find a way to win. It\u2019s the most intriguing rugby.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a pretty simple game in those conditions. You want the opposition to have the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got a kick in the guts against France last weekend and you have to pull yourself together.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe probably thought we did well finishing the World Cup as finalists and weren\u2019t right on the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo come up here and do that after we got a bit of a kick in the guts against France is one of the most satisfying wins we\u2019ve had.\u201d<\/p>\n