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England vs Australia: Eddie Jones has 'a chip on his shoulder', says Wallabies rival Michael Cheika

Cheika and Jones have been lockedin a war of words ahead of this weekend's autumn international

Nick Purewal
Friday 02 December 2016 08:27 GMT
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Michael Cheika believes Eddie Jones has always 'had a chip on his shoulder'
Michael Cheika believes Eddie Jones has always 'had a chip on his shoulder' (Getty)

Michael Cheika believes Eddie Jones has manufactured a "chip on his shoulder" against Australia in a bid to create a siege mentality with England.

Former Wallabies boss Jones claimed he felt disrespected in his homeland of Australia when coaching England to a three-nil Test series victory in June.

The England boss has stood by those claims this week as his side gears up to host the Wallabies at Twickenham on Saturday.

Friends and former Randwick team-mates Cheika and Jones have traded verbal volleys all week, and now the Australia boss has rounded on his Wallabies predecessor once again.

"He has always operated with a chip on his shoulder and now there isn't a chip and things are going well he's got to keep looking for one," said Cheika of England boss Jones, who coached Australia to the 2003 World Cup final.

"He is very respected in Australia, I don't know where that comes from, the disrespect.

"He is just geeing up. He is a good Australian coach who took Australia to a World Cup final when we didn't expect to go fantastic.

"He is respected for that, he certainly is by me as a former team-mate of his, and I think you saw when he was in Australia that he got a lot of respect."

Former Wallabies full-back Glen Ella acted as a skills coach under Jones for England's Test series whitewash of Australia in June.

Ella this week claimed Cheika was still having nightmares about the summer series - and that has led the Australia boss to hit back.

A nonplussed Cheika suggested Ella wants England to beat Australia, even claiming the 57-year-old could be eyeing a future coaching job with the Wallabies.

"It's funny, everyone is up the front of the bus when they have had a win," said Cheika when quizzed on Ella's comments.

"A guy like Glen in particular is always up the front for a hand-out when he has had a win, but when it is tough and you have to run uphill, I have not seen that bloke or a few of those blokes around.

Jones believes he and his England team were disrespected by Australian media in the summer (Getty)

"I don't think Glen is working with England any more, so any Aussie who would support England against Australia, especially a guy who has played for the Wallabies, there's got to be a reason why.

"I don't know if he's bitter. Maybe they want to get us kicked out and have a job there, I'm not sure. He has to have a reason.

"I am upset about losing at the time (in June), of course. You get over it and for the year as a whole we have improved. We are going well and we will work on our things.

"When the bigger tournaments come around we will see if the plan has worked out or not for both sides."

PA

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