Eddie Jones has fired back at Austin Healey after he claimed that England’s opening-round loss to Scotland last week was due to a coaching mistake.

Several former England players and coaches were less than complimentary about Jones’ tactics in the lead-up to their 20-17 Six Nations defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield last week.

Healey, Clive Woodward and Martin Johnson, among others, questioned why Jones took Marcus Smith off at a key stage of the match and replaced him with George Ford.

But it seems Jones took exception to Healey’s comments, in particular, which appeared in his newspaper column.

“That is a coaching mistake. As is constantly chopping and changing your style. How many of those mistakes does it take until you run out of coaching lives?

“I’m not saying it will happen, but a loss to Italy does not seem completely ridiculous. There is that much uncertainty and confusion in the way England are playing.”

In the wake of England’s 33-0 victory over Italy this past Sunday, Jones took advantage of his post-match media conference hit back at Healey.

When asked who was captain when Tom Curry left the field, he snapped: “Austin Healey! I have got a difficult question for you, mate, can you handle it?

“Who wrote Austin Healey’s column for him? You better go and wipe the egg off his face, mate. If you can do that for me I will be happy!”

© Agence France-Presse