Eddie Jones has said that he's ready to apologise to Johnny Sexton for the war of words he started in the media with the Irish international earlier this year.
Speaking to the media back in March as Ireland prepared to take on England in the Six Nations, Jones turned his attention to the issue of Sexton's health, noting that the out-half had suffered a recent head injury.
"Sexton is an interesting one, they've talked about him having whiplash injury which is not a great thing to talk about," Jones said. "I'm sure his mother and father would be worried about that. Hopefully, the lad's all right on Saturday to play.
"I’d just be worried about his welfare. If you’re saying a guy has got whiplash then he’s had a severe trauma. Maybe they used the wrong term, but if you’ve had severe trauma then you’ve got to worry about the welfare of the player."
In a feature interview with The Times, Jones admitted that he had gone too far with his comments, and that he regretted what he said about the no. 10.
Stating that he plans on apologising to him, Jones said: "At the right time I will. I haven’t yet, but at the right time I will. Because he is a brilliant player. I love him as a player."
Jones also told Owen Slot that he would be calling time on his spell as England manager at the end of the World Cup in 2019, something which he has had planned for a while.
"It is quite emotionally draining," Jones said of the England job, "four years is enough."
However, he also added that he hopes his tactics and presence can make the team one of the most dominant in the game before that time arrives, stating that he has a grand vision for the team as a whole.
"I want us to have that attitude: we are dominant, the biggest team in Europe and we play like that," Jones said. "Like the old Manchester United side, the same as the All Blacks — the All Blacks have a couple of points’ head start in games because people expect to be beaten by them. I want our team to have that. I think we are getting there."
Via The Times
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