Fire Jones, Drop Farrell says B&I Lions star
SPOTLIGHT: England coach Eddie Jones along with captain Owen Farrell have again come under scrutiny ahead of the Six Nations clash against Wales.
British and Irish Lions star Andy Powell is the lastest person to state that Jones is not the right man for the job and captain Farrell should be dropped from the England squad.
Powell, who coaches Brecon RFC in Wales, took to Twitter to call for change at the top for England. The 39-year-old also had a few words for Jones’ continued omission of in-form back rows Alex Dombrandt and Sam Simmonds.
A Lions tourist in 2009, Powell appears to suggest a recall for Harlequins fullback Mike Brown into the bargain.
“Looking at the players Eddie Jones is leaving out the England squad Sam Simmons, Dombrandt, Marcus Smith and Brown going forward I think Eddie Jones is the wrong man for the job!
“I don’t think Farell should be involved Smith should be starting at 10 and playing around him.”
Looking at the players Eddie Jones is leaving out the England squad Sam Simmons donbrandt marcus smith and brown going forward I think Eddie Jones is the wrong man for the job !! I don’t think farell should be involved smith should be starting at 10 and playing around him
— Andy Powell (@andypowell8) February 22, 2021
Last week Powell had advice for Ireland selectors, tipping London Irish flyhalf Paddy Jackson as the form pick at 10 in the wake the latest injury layoff for star playmaker Jonny Sexton.
Jackson has been off Ireland’s radar since Ulster terminated his IRFU contract after he was acquitted of rape and is yet to return to Ireland in a playing capacity and remains unlikely to do so.
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac appears to be the only one listening to the Brecon coach’s advice. Earlier this month, the former Wales No.8 has suggested that Pivac opts for a trio of Dan Lydiate, Josh Navidi and Taulupe Faletau to combat Ireland’s back row.
Powell, who featured last year in a RugbyPass documentary, wrote: “Let’s hope Pivac picks players on form not on what they have done in the past!! Back row I’d go for Faletau, Lydiate and Navidi. And pick Sheedy at 10 we got nothing to lose. ”
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