Eddie Jones has opened a Pandora’s box.
England’s Australian coach kicked off a week of festivities ahead of Ireland’s trip to Twickenham on Saturday by saying that everyone hates England.
“Maybe Clive Woodward summed it up best when he said everyone hates England – that’s true,” Jones said.
“Because of the history that is involved with the social and historical context, there is that long-seated rivalry and hatred of England. You can feel it.”
Talk about building a siege mentality and CJ Stander is happy to lay siege to Ireland’s next Six Nations opponents.
Munster’s stand-in captain may be South African and he may be looking to earn only his third cap in London, but he believes disliking the English comes naturally to most of earth’s peoples.
“I am South African, not Irish, but it is the same thing for South Africans,” Stander said.
“We have a thing about England.
“It doesn’t matter what you play or what you do, you just want to play against them so it is good to slot in with the boys.
“It is something for Irish people against English teams and it is good to get that feeling from the boys.”
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/696347444259508225/video/1
Following his rousing rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann we’re getting the sneaking suspicion Stander knows how to play to an Irish audience.
After barnstorming performances against Wales and France, Irish rugby fans will be hoping the 25 year old can channel his anti-English feeling into another dominant turn against England’s excellent back-row trio of Chris Robshaw, James Haskell and Billy Vunipola.
Because what we really hate is losing to England.
