Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney says he was "really disappointed" by England's Six Nations but still backs head coach Eddie Jones. The RFU was criticised as being "Lovely" by former player Ugo Monye after claiming England made "solid progress" during the tournament. There were calls for Jones to resign but Sweeney says he is the "right guy" to take England to the 2023 World Cup. Sweeney added the RFU should have been more "up front" after defeat by France. England won just two games for the second Six Nations in a row and finished third thanks to favourable results elsewhere. ... England scored just eight tries across their five games in the tournament - fewer than the 12 scored in 2021.

Progress - scoring fewer tries, and discounting the tries scored against Italy only three tries scored in the matches against France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales with 165 minutes elapsing between Dombrandt's try in the match against Wales and Steward's try in Paris.

The whole rebuilding excuse doesn't wash it. If Farrell, Tuilagi, May and Watson were fit they would be playing and results might have been marginally better. Saying that England are rebuilding suggests a focused strategy to develop but that isn't the case. Injuries have meant that experienced players aren't available and the lack of depth in key positions has been laid bare. 

The same tired coaches go round and round the international circuit. When Jones was first appointed he was supposed to mentor and develop an English successor. What's happened to that plan? The RFU are continually handing down directives to community clubs about Golden roles and attracting volunteers and making sure succession plans are in place but they themselves have no idea about recruitment, retention, devopment or succession.

Rant over. Back to the wine. 

The next England head coach should be English, says Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney. Australian Eddie Jones has a contract to the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup but is under pressure after successive disappointing Six Nations campaigns. Sweeney's focus on homegrown coaches would rule out former Wales coach Warren Gatland or ex-South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus as Jones' successor. "The preference would be to have an English set-up," said Sweeney.

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