Eddie Jones

 The England coaching team have defended their over-reliance on Vunipola, saying the No8 needs to play regularly as he gets better with every game despite fears from fans of fatigue and injury. 

The Saracens star has had his fair share of injury troubles over the past couple of seasons, particularly with his knees and breaking an arm on multiple occasions. 

With England’s World Cup campaign starting less than three weeks, England fans on social media cannot understand why he is still being played. 

The RFU gave head coach Jones their backing after an ill-disciplined England squandered a 12-0 lead to lose the second Test - and the series - 23-12 against South Africa in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Jones has come in for criticism after three consecutive Six Nations defeats were followed by two against the Springboks, also losing to the Barbarians before embarking for their tour.

The defiant Australian is confident the tide will turn with the World Cup to come in Japan next year.

Former Wallabies coach Jones's side raced to a 12-0 lead in Bloemfontein on Saturday before the Springboks got into the game and over-ran them 23-12 to secure the series.

It's the second week in a row England have let a lead slip, with South Africa coming back to win 42-39 in Johannesburg.

The defeat on Saturday was the sixth overall on the trot for England, who also lost to the Barbarians before they left for South Africa.

Ben Te'o is the latest England star to be hurt on international duty after the Worcester centre aggravated a thigh problem when performing a weights session last week.

Te'o first sustained the injury while playing for England during this year's Six Nations tournament.

It raises the number of casualties during Jones' England camps to 15.

Five of those are Bath players and the Premiership club's owner Bruce Craig has slammed Jones, saying the injuries are "totally unacceptable".

A video has emerged of Jones making the remarks at an event for Japanese company Fuso last July.

The Australian said: "We've played 23 Tests, we've only lost one Test to the scummy Irish.

"I am still dirty about that game. We'll get that back, we'll get that back don't worry. We've got them next year at home, we'll get them back."

Jones also reflected on his time as Japan head coach, making reference to a 125-0 defeat for the Under-20 national team against their Wales counterparts soon after he took over the Brave Blossoms.

Jones is reported to have travelled standard class from Edinburgh to Manchester on Sunday, watching Manchester United take on Chelsea at Old Trafford before later continuing his journey to London.

It is claimed Jones faced both physical and verbal abuse from others on the train and the Australian says he will review his future transport arrangements.

"I try and do the right thing by the fans but if that happens then you've got to have a look at your own safety," said Jones. "I never knock back a request for a selfie unless I'm racing to somewhere. I did a lot.

"He'd do a great job as Lions coach. 3-0 would be expected. It's probably the easiest of the three tours isn't it?" Gatland said after naming his Wales side to face Jones' England in the Six Nations on Sunday.

Gatland coached the last two Lions tours to Australia in 2013 and his native New Zealand last year but says Australian Jones is the best man to handle the next one.

"I'm learning from him. He's doing a great job so I'm watching him pretty closely," Gatland added.

After guiding England to 22 wins in his 23 tests in charge, the Australian was rewarded for transforming the fortunes of the national team by getting a new deal through 2021.

As part of the deal, the English Rugby Football Union has planned a succession process that will likely see a new coach appointed by the end of the 2019-20 season, to work alongside Jones until the summer of 2021. The new coach would then lead England into the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The Lions face a daunting task as they take on the world champions on their own soil across June and July, having suffered a whitewash on their last visit.

Jones claims Wales boss Gatland's approach will be too rigid to get the better of the All Blacks, who are heavy favourites to triumph.

"I think it's going to be very tough for them [the Lions]," Jones told The Telegraph.

"They picked their squad to play a certain style based on the influence of Wales.

Hansen offered his congratulations to Jones after England equalled the All Blacks' record of 18 consecutive victories for a tier-one nation by battering Scotland 61-21 in the Six Nations on Saturday.

The record will be England's alone if they can beat Ireland in Dublin this weekend, which would also see them clinch back-to-back Grand Slams.

Rather than be disappointed that New Zealand, whose own run ended against Ireland in November, may no longer have the accolade Hansen welcomed the competition.