Eddie Jones takes another swipe at Johnny Sexton

England head coach Eddie Jones was forced to apologise to Ireland flyhalf Johnny Sexton in 2016 but that hasn't stopped the Australian from taking aim at the British and Irish Lion.

Jones expressed his alarm at what he described as "whiplash injury' sustained against France in 2016 saying:

"I'm sure his mother and father would be worried about that. Hopefully, the lad's all right to play on Saturday," Jones said at the time before adding that he is "concerned about the player's welfare".

Jones has furthered his claim that the playmaker receives preferential treatment from referees ahead of England's clash with the All Blacks.

Jones spoke about Owen Farrell's controversial tackle on Andre Esterhuizen and while the tackle went unpunished it did cast a spotlight on Farrell's physical approach. Jones believes it is England's playmaker who is given insufficient protection by referees while borderline hits on Sexton are often condemned.

"If he was Sexton then we'd be able to complain about him, but because he's Owen Farrell he's allowed to be hit late. He's tough so he gets up and he plays," Jones said.

"He's a tough rooster, a warrior. He takes the ball to the line, he puts his body on the line, he doesn't play in a dinner suit.

"We manage him every week. Players like him are never 100% right. They get on the field, they play and they give you everything they've got and he's like that.

"He wants to play every week. If we are playing marbles on a Wednesday, he wants to play. He's a competitor. You can't put blokes like him in cotton wool."

Story via: The Independent