England rugby coach Jones expects France to pack punch on and off the field

BAGSHOT, AFP: England coach Eddie Jones compared veteran French counterpart Jacques Brunel to a boxer who had gone the distance with heavyweight great Muhammad Ali as he forecast a gruelling Six Nations encounter for his side in Paris. 

Saturday’s match will be the first time Brunel has taken on England in his current role as France boss. 

But having served as forwards coach when current French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte was in charge of the national side and, more recently, head coach of Italy, the 64-year-old Brunel knows reigning Six Nations champions England well. 

Jones, who first came across Brunel some 20 years ago, said the former Perpignan coach had always picked physically imposing teams and that nothing had changed now he was in charge of France. 

“Anyone who can last the distance, go 15 rounds against Muhammad Ali... if you coach professionally for 20 years you are doing a lot of things right,” said Jones on Thursday. 

“He’s a good selector, he’s got a certain style of play, always picks big physical teams, they always play like that and if they’re good enough they win.” But Jones was confident an England side without injured regular captain Dylan Hartley at hooker would be able to best France physically despite their shock 25-13 loss away to Scotland last time out.