Jones must employ attacking style: Simpson

New coach Eddie Jones must employ high-octane, attacking rugby to transform England’s fortunes, according to discarded national team scrum-half Joe Simpson.

Simpson, who orchestrated the rapid tempo as Wasps blitzed reigning three-time European champions Toulon 32-6 in Coventry on Sunday, missed the cut for England’s dismal World Cup campaign that cost Stuart Lancaster his head coaching job.

Now Simpson, 27, has freely admitted England adopting extra ambition, width and pace would boost his chances of a recall from the Test wilderness.

“I believe there’s been a shift in the brand of rugby all teams are going to have to start to play now,” said Simpson, who still boasts just one cap despite consistent form across the seasons with Wasps.

“New Zealand have always thrown the ball around and really played with flair, but they’ve always had the players to do that.

“When you’ve got players that aren’t quite up to it, you have to adapt your style.

“With England, with the players they’ve got, they most certainly have the talent to throw the ball around.

“With people like Elliot (Daly) and Wadey (Christian Wade) not even making the final squads, they’re two of the most flair players in the league.

“Eddie has those players at his disposal and hopefully for me, because it would suit my game, the brand of rugby that will be played will be a speedy game.

“That’s the brand of rugby I want to play, I enjoy playing and I’m best at, really upping the tempo of matches and making it uncomfortable for opposition defences.”

Wasps sit top of Pool Five in the European Champions Cup after two rounds, with Wasps’ centre Daly and wing Wade also narrowly missing out on England’s World Cup cut.

Jones starts work officially on December 1 when he will address the futures of assistant coaches Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt.

The former Japan boss will hardly have his feet under the table when he will have to select his first elite player squad.

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