James Haskell launches defence of Eddie Jones after transforming England culture

James Haskell has launched a stern defence of England coach Eddie Jones, claiming his inability to "play the game" leads to unfair criticism.

The former Wasps star, who played under the Australian coach early in his tenure, winning the Grand Slam in 2016, labelled Jones as "utterly brilliant".

England have won three of the six Six Nations championships led by Jones, having only won once in the 12 years prior.

The Red Rose have won one of their opening two games, with some of the selection and replacement decisions during the Scotland defeat coming in for criticism.

Jones divides opinion among fans, who Haskell claims cling on to every word uttered by Sir Clive Woodward, England's 2003 World Cup winning coach, who is not in and around the group.

Haskell said: "He (Jones) doesn't fit in to the archetypal mould that England fans have and because everyone who sits in the stands think they know better than everyone else.

"They read Clive Woodward in the Daily Mail who flip flops more than anything - one week do this, the next week do that - because people believe that's the case.

"Half the journalists who slag Eddie Jones off have never been to an England camp, never watched a training session. Yet the people leading the way are your Clive Woodward's, who have never been down.

"Clive Woodward has not been down to training since Stuart Lancaster had him down for one day in 2014. So how you can comment on something that you've got no idea.

"It is like me watching NFL and telling you what I can see at home. I don't know what the game plan is."

Haskell made his England debut back in 2007 and worked under the likes of Martin Johnson and Stuart Lancaster.

The former player enjoyed a jet set career, playing in