England boss Eddie Jones sports nasty black eye and cut face after slipping in bathroom before Six Nations launch
- Eddie Jones suffered a nasty eye injury after an accident in London
- Jones slipped in hotel bathroom before the Six Nations launch press conference
- The England head coach cut his eye socket and cheekbone during the fall
- Jones was laughing and joking at the Six Nations launch despite his injuries
- England are favourites to win the tournament after an incredible last year
Eddie Jones looked like he'd been packing down with his England forwards rather than coaching them when he turned up at the Six Nations launch press conference sporting a nasty black eye and cut face.
Jones said he fell over in a bathroom at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel hours before the event at the Hurlingham Club in south-west London on Wednesday morning.
The England head coach changed his story throughout several media appearances during the launch event, but finally said: 'I just slipped over in the hotel this morning.
Eddie Jones sported a nasty black eye and cut on the temple on Wednesday morning
The England boss suffered the injuries after slipping in his hotel bathroom
Despite the wounds, Jones was seen smiling and joking during his press conference
'My mother always told me I had to shave, I walked out of the shower, forgot to shave and this is what happens.
'I'll be alright mate, I'll be at training on Thursday ready to go.'
The Australian wore a medical dressing over his left temple to cover the large gash near his eye socket as he spoke at the Hurlingham Club.
There was also a smaller cut and swelling on Jones's left cheekbone as a result of his fall, and he was seen pressing an ice pack on to the badly bruised area.
A hooker during his playing days, Jones is no stranger to a bash around the head, although he would have been forgiven for thinking those days were behind him.
Now he prefers to have his players learn at the school of hard knocks. Jones had the England players practising judo last year in a bid to improve their skills at the breakdown, although that led to controversy after Wasps' uncapped back-row forward Sam Jones broke his leg during one drill.
The tough training camp in Brighton last October, held in preparation for the autumn internationals at Twickenham, also saw Anthony Watson break his jaw and fellow wing Jack Nowell injure his thigh.
The Australian put on a medical dressing to cover the cut on his left eye socket
Despite his injuries, the 56-year-old Tasmanian was his usual jovial self on Wednesday as he laughed off his appearance and got down to business discussing England's chances in the annual tournament between the Northern Hemisphere's strongest teams.
Jones was the talk of the launch, as he lined up alongside the other coaches, Rob Howley, Vern Cotter, Guy Noves, Conor O’Shea and Joe Schmidt, to preview the championship, which starts in 10 days time.
England go into the tournament as favourites, having enjoyed a remarkable change in fortunes under Jones. He took over after the debacle of the World Cup in October 2015 - England were the first hosts ever to be eliminated at the group stage - but led them to an unbeaten 2016, winning a record-equalling 14 Tests in succession, including a first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2003 and a first ever three-Test series win in Australia.
Jones confirmed that Dylan Hartley would continue as England skipper, despite the fact the hooker has not played for six weeks, having been banned for a swinging arm playing for Northampton against Leinster.
This year's Six Nations captains line up alongside the trophy at the Hurlingham Club: (left-right) Italy's Sergio Parisse, Ireland's Rory Best, Scotland's Greig Laidlaw, England's Dylan Hartley, France's Guilhem Guirado and Alun-Wyn Jones of Wales
Jones poses with the other head coaches: (left-right) Italy's Conor O'Shea, Ireland's Joe Schmidt, Scotland's Vern Cotter, France's Guy Noves and Rob Howley of Wales
England captain Hartley and head coach Jones are hoping to hold on to the title won last year
Hartley is therefore set to start in the opening match at Twickenham on February 4, when England start their defence of the title against France.
The England captain said: ‘The team is preparing well, we have had a couple of days in Portugal which were good.
‘Now it is all about preparation. In the autumn there were a lot of column inches about injuries to Maro Itoje, Anthony Watson and George Kruis.
‘But that gave opportunities to the likes of Jonny May, Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury – that competition brings the best out in the team. We have depth now and the team is looking good.’
England have never lost with Hartley in charge, having drawn one Test in South Africa in 2012, before the hooker took over from Chris Robshaw when Jones took the Twickenham helm.
Hartley was in attendance alongside the other captains, Guilhem Guirado (France), Sergio Parisse (Italy), Greig Laidlaw (Scotland), Rory Best (Ireland) and newly-installed Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones.
The Welshman said: ‘To be named as captain is pretty special for me. I am fortunate enough to have people in the team who know my pros and cons, most of the guys know me so they can help.
‘We are in a pretty decent place as a team. It was a positive autumn – you can always do better but now we have a sprinkling of new caps so that's will add energy to the team.’
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