Jones calls for England fans to maintain faith after disappointing Six Nations campaign

England head coach Eddie Jones has called upon fans to maintain faith in the team's development after a disappointing Six Nations campaign ended with a 25-13 loss to France.

Saturday's defeat to the Grand Slam champions ensured England finished third in the 2022 standings, after Wales suffered a shock loss to Italy and Ireland beat Scotland in the final round of fixtures.

England have now lost three games in three separate editions of the Six Nations under the Australian, having done so just twice in 16 campaigns prior to his 2015 appointment.

But Jones has called upon supporters to maintain faith in the team, which he says is going through a "rebuilding" process ahead of next year's World Cup in France. 

"They [England fans] have got to have some faith," Jones said on Sunday. "I think I have done a reasonable job for England over the past seven years.

"We are going through a period now where we are rebuilding the team and it takes time. Look at the French team, it took them three years to win the [Six Nations] Championship [after appointing head coach Fabien Galthie in 2019].

"We have rebuilt the side from the last Six Nations [after finishing fifth in 2021]. I think the progress is very positive, [but] the results aren't the results we would like.

"We would all like to be winning tournaments and be top of the table, but we are not quite good enough to do that now.

Well played @FranceRugby and congratulations on winning the Grand Slam 🤝 pic.twitter.com/WCWBy1rIlU

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) March 19, 2022

Jones has won three Six Nations titles and secured one Grand Slam during his tenure as England coach, winning the championship in 2016, 2017, and 2020, and winning all five fixtures en route to his first triumph.

Despite acknowledging that recent results have not been good enough, the 62-year-old said he was already focused on leading England to better showings, starting with the tour of Australia later this year.

"Am I pleased with the job I'm doing? I am not pleased with the results, but do I think I'm coaching well? 100 per cent," Jones insisted.

"I think I am coaching well, but sometimes you don't get the results. 

"I've coached for long enough to know that this is all part of rebuilding a team, and rebuilding a team at international level is a complex and intriguing project, particularly when you're coaching a team like England.

"The expectation is so high, and you don't get any latitude when you are bringing young players through, who tend to be more inconsistent as they learn their craft at international level.

"I couldn't be more excited about the prospects for this team. The only thing I am worried about now is preparing for Australia."

"But within the next 12 to 14 months when we prepare for the World Cup, we will be."