Eddie Jones has last laugh after baiting Wales

In the six days leading to Cardiff on Saturday night, Eddie Jones trotted out the usual Welsh stereotypes about daffodils, goats, and Tom Jones — all harmless, knockabout stuff even if some over-sensitive natives mistook it for a national insult.

His country’s favourite Aussie was more concerned about finding out why England were historically “petrified of playing Wales in Wales”. Twenty-four hours later he claimed to have solved the problem but would be keeping that to himself because “they’re a cunning lot, the Welsh”.

Jones knew that to his cost. He had made his last stand as Wallabies coach 12 years earlier in rugby’s Notre Dame by the Taff, a match that ended in a defeat grave enough for his employers to give him the last rites on the spot.