England Head Coach Eddie Jones believes the legendary Jonny Wilkinson is the country’s only world class player since 2003
The Australian has also suggested that previous players have failed to put the work in and have questioned their desire as to why they failed to make it to the top
EDDIE JONES claims Red Rose legend Jonny Wilkinson is the ONLY world-class player England have had since winning the World Cup in 2003.
Jones also stuck the boot into previous England stars, insisting they refused to put in the hours to make it to the very top level.
Wilko wrote his name into English rugby union folklore with his 2003 World Cup-winning drop kick against Australia Down Under.
England’s Aussie coach Jones has won all his 12 games in charge - including a Six Nations triumph - since taking over from Stuart Lancaster.
But Jones declared: “If you look at the record of English rugby since 2003, there’s only been one world class player produced and that’s Jonny Wilkinson.
“There hasn’t been the desire from the players to push themselves and be great.
“To do that you have to work that little bit smarter and work that little bit harder.”
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However, Jones hinted that a number of his Grand Slam heroes are heading towards the same kind of stardom after so far going the whole of 2016 unbeaten.
Maro Itoje, Billy Vunipola and Owen Farrell all missed out on being named the world player of the year this month to All Black Beauden Barrett.
Jones also said that his own fly-half George Ford also has the skills to be better than Barrett and follow in the footsteps of Wilkinson.
The former World Cup runner-up added: “Some of our guys are moving towards that world-class area.
“I don't think you get a stamp on your head to say you're world-class now and you've got that for life.
“We’ve got guys now who are starting to perform 8/10 every game and when you do that then you become world-class. Now we have a number of players who want to be part of a great team and want to be great players.
“They’re growing in assertiveness and in their desire to be better, which I think is fantastic."
One player who is certainly not heading towards world-class status is winger Semesa Rokodugnui, the Bath winger who was sent back to his club this week despite his two-try heroics against Fiji.
Explaining his shock call, Jones said: "We had a normal chat. It’s a selection decision we make. We’ve picked the best three wingers for Argentina. I always like to have one winger with real, genuine pace. I like the other wing to have work rate.
"If the winger with work rate also has pace, then it’s bit of a bonanza.
This is not to say that Roko might not come back against Australia. He has improved, but he needs to go back and work at Bath."
However, forwards George Kruis and Tom Wood have come back into England’s pack to face Argentina.
And backs Mike Brown and Jonny May have also made returns to the starting side to play the Pumas at Twickenham on Saturday.
Although Courtney Lawes didn’t manage to train this morning, he is fine to start - but Nathan Hughes misses out after being sent home following a ‘lower leg problem’.
Boss Eddie Jones said: “Selection was interesting this week but it shows how competitive and how much depth we are developing.
“We’ve had a strong week’s preparation and I’ve been really impressed by the players desire to get better. It is a strong and relentless team. All the credit for what the team has done so far this autumn deserves to go to the players who have been absolutely exceptional.
“Dylan Hartley has led from the front as have Owen Farrell, George Ford and Billy Vunipola. There are a number of other players that have been in leadership roles helping to develop the team.
“This game against Argentina is a big step up for us as they were probably the second best team in the Rugby Championship and played some exceptional rugby.
“They are a quality team, have power in the forwards, speed and guile in the backs as well as great experience. We appreciate they have threats across the field and they have always been a physical, tough side. They still have their set-piece armoury in the scrum and lineouts so we’re looking forward to a great game of rugby against them. The set-piece is going to be important. We have worked hard on our scrum and maul this week so they are areas we feel we can get a slight dominance in.
“We are looking forward to that physical challenge because when you play against the Argentinians it is a challenge. It is forwards against forwards, backs against backs. It is a bit of an old fashioned game.”
Squad
15. Mike Brown (vice captain, Harlequins, 53 caps) 14. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 20 caps) 13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 27 caps) 12. Owen Farrell (vice captain, Saracens, 45 caps) 11. Elliot Daly (Wasps, 7 caps) 10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 28 caps) 9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 63 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 37 caps) 2. Dylan Hartley (captain, Northampton Saints, 77 caps) 3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 67 caps) 4. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 51 caps) 5. George Kruis (Saracens, 18 caps) 6. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 53 caps) 7. Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 43 caps) 8. Billy Vunipola (vice captain, Saracens, 31 caps)
Replacements 16. Jamie George (Saracens, 10 caps) 17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 44 caps) 18. Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 2 caps) 19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 1 cap) 20. Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints, 3 caps) 21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 64 caps) 22. Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors, 2 caps) 23. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 3 caps)