Friday 18 March 2016 08:53, UK
Eddie Jones says no one wants England to win the Grand Slam and believes that was behind the Welsh Rugby Union releasing a statement on Joe Marler.
The loosehead prop was cleared to play against France on Saturday after a Six Nations disciplinary hearing accepted his explanation after being caught on referee Craig Joubert's microphone calling Wales' Samson Lee a "gypsy boy" in the hosts' 25-21 win at Twickenham.
The WRU released a statement on Thursday expressing their surprise at the decision not to sanction Marler but the England head coach told Sky Sports News HQ that the timing of the release was not coincidental.
"I think everyone is keen for England not to win the Grand Slam, let's be real about it," Jones said. "So Wales will be happy if we don't win the Grand Slam and they are happy to do anything to upset us in preparation for the Grand Slam, it's as simple as that.
"Why else would they [put the statement out just before Jones' press conference]? The whole thing has been dealt with. This is why you have citing commissions and you have review panels, for those people to deal with it.
"Once they have made their decision then you get on with it. You don't say it is wrong that they made the decision, you've got to get on with it and that's what happened and Wales have decided not to do that. Why? Well, there has only got to be one reason.
"How they behave - we talk about values in rugby. I know I have been criticised for values in rugby. You talk about values in rugby, let's have a look at them now."
Warren Gatland apologised on Wednesday for referring to Marler's "gypsy boy" remark as banter but Jones said the Wales head coach would have had nothing to do with the release from the WRU.
Asked about the Welsh stance on the situation at the start of his Thursday press conference, Jones said: "Maybe they [WRU] don't know whether they are Arthur or Martha.
"There was a decision made, that is what we have these judiciary committees for. I said I would let the process run its route - it has run its route.
"I don't think it has got anything to do with Warren [Gatland]. He has got in trouble for what he said, so let's leave it at that."
Jones was also asked if he thought Marler's comment had been racist and said: "I spoke to Joe about the situation and said it was inappropriate."
The England coach has selected Mako Vunipola to start at loosehead in their Grand Slam decider against France on Saturday but he insisted Marler has not been left out on the back of the incident with Lee and sought to draw a line under the row.
"Absolutely not. [Starting with Vunipola] suits the way we are going to play at the weekend," Jones said.
"We have a Grand Slam in front of us and a Grand Slam is much more interesting than something that was said seven days ago."
