Six Nations: Everyone is keen for England not to win Grand Slam, says furious Eddie Jones

England head coach Eddie Jones (Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire).

The decision by the Welsh Rugby Union to object publicly to Joe Marler being cleared of verbally abusing their prop Samson Lee at Twickenham last Saturday provoked a furious response from Jones.

Seething at the timing of the statement’s release shortly before his team announcement press conference, the Australian mocked Wales’ reaction to a saga that has been protracted into a fifth day by declaring “they don’t know whether they’re Arthur or Martha”.

England face the final assignment of their quest for a first Grand Slam since 2003 when they collide with France in Paris and Jones has circled the wagons around his squad.

“Everyone is keen for England not to win the Grand Slam, let’s be real about it,” said Jones.

“Wales will be happy if we don’t win the Grand Slam and they’ll do anything to upset us in our preparation. Of course that’s the case. It’s as simple as that. Why else would they do it?

“The whole thing has been dealt with. Once a decision has been made, you get on with it.

“You don’t say the decision is wrong, you have to get on with it.

“Wales have decided not to do that and there’s only one reason for that.”

Marler was unexpectedly cleared to play against France after escaping sanction for calling Lee “gypsy boy” in the 25-21 victory, despite the offence of verbal abuse carrying a minimum four-week suspension.

Just hours after Six Nations organisers had cleared Marler of striking Wales prop Rob Evans, they declined to punish his insult towards Lee, noting the “comment was one made in the heat of the moment”.

The outcome of the investigation and delay in reaching a verdict has opened the rugby judiciary to ridicule and yesterday Wales responded with a strongly worded statement objecting to what they regard as a racist remark.

France: S Spedding (Clermont Auvergne); W Fofana (Clermont), G Fickou (Toulouse), M Mermoz (Toulon), V Vakatawa (French RF); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Machenaud (Racing 92); J Poirot (Bordeaux-Begles), G Guirado (Toulon, capt), R Slimani (Stade Francais), A Flanquart (Stade Francais), Y Maestri (Toulouse), D Chouly (Clermont), B Le Roux (Racing 92), L Goujon (Bordeaux-Begles). Replacements: C Chat (Racing 92), U Atonio (La Rochelle), X Chiocci (Toulon), P Jedresiak (Clermont), W Lauret (Racing 92), S Bezy (Toulouse), J Plisson (Stade Francais), M Medard (Toulouse).

England: M Brown (Harlequins); A Watson (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), J Nowell (Exeter); G Ford (Bath), D Care (Harlequins); M Vunipola (Saracens), D Hartley (Northampton, capt), D Cole (Leicester), M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens), C Robshaw (Harlequins), J Haskell (Wasps), B Vunipola (Saracens). Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), J Marler (Harlequins), K Brookes (Northampton), J Launchbury (Wasps), J Clifford (Harlequins), B Youngs (Leicester), M Tuilagi (Leicester), E Daly (Wasps).