England not far away under Jones, says Tindall

World Cup winner Mike Tindall believes England can still be a great side under Eddie Jones, despite their disappointing results in 2018.

England and Jones have come in for criticism after a difficult start to the year in which they lost six consecutive matches before the series dead rubber against South Africa at the end of June.

But Tindall is confident Jones can again get England playing the sort of rugby that made them Six Nations Grand Slam winners in 2016, as they went unbeaten through his first year in charge.

“The way [Jones] handles the media, the way he handles players is fine and dandy when you’re winning,” Tindall told Omnisport.

“You’re always going to then come under pressure if that flips around. Normally you wouldn’t expect them to go and lose four or five games on the bounce.

“They’re not far away from being that great team that they were in the first year and a half under Eddie’s control, so he’s just got to find a way of getting them back to that.”

Eddie Jones on why today’s victory in Cape Town is the perfect springboard to get England back to winning ways: https://t.co/w4TLY0oCYS pic.twitter.com/lLQRztr0nx

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) June 23, 2018

George Gregan, Jones’ captain with Australia, is also backing the England boss to turn his fortunes around.

“It’s a results-driven business, professional sport, and Eddie is all about results,” Gregan said. “He went in there and spoke about how he wants to prepare this team to go and win a World Cup. 

“There were always going to be some losses but it’s how you learn from those and how they put themselves in a position to get better.

“He’s a quick learner and I know that team will want to get back to their winning ways. They’re a dangerous team.”

Mike Tindall and George Gregan were speaking at the Icons of Rugby event at the Buckinghamshire Golf Club.

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