Eddie Jones Backtracks On His Comments About Warren Gatland’s Tactics

“I was just having a bit of fun,”

England boss Eddie Jones has played down his comments from earlier this week which suggested the British and Irish Lions will struggle to beat the All Blacks because of Warren Gatland’s tactics.

Jones questioned Gatland’s squad selection and predicted the Lions will adopt a typical Gatland direct approach “with not much ball movement,” a sentiment echoed by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. But the England boss has  insisted the comments, made on the Daily Telegraph’s Full Contact podcast, were in jest.

“I was just having a bit of fun with Brian Moore. He is an old sparring partner of mine.” Jones told Sky Sports News HQ

“I really don’t have any more to add to that. I said it in jest. I wanted to make his podcast popular.”