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TWICKENHAM. – England rugby coach Eddie Jones threatened a “self-imposed media ban” after his side maintained their bid for a Six Nations Grand Slam with a 21-10 defeat of Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday. Victory over the defending champions made it three wins out of three for England under the Australian. The former Wallaby and Japan boss had riled Ireland in the build-up by suggesting the parents of fly-half Jonathan Sexton, who has a history of concussion problems, should be concerned for his welfare after the Irish management said he had suffered a “whiplash” type injury in a 10-9 loss to France.

But with Wales, whose coach Warren Gatland is renowned for pre-match mind games, England’s next opponents, Jones said: “I’m putting a self-imposed media ban on myself before the Wales game.

“I will leave that to Warren Gatland, he’s pretty good at it.” The often outspoken Jones added: “I don’t want to do any scaremongering or do anything that offends the media or offends people’s parents.

“From now until next Friday before the Wales game I’m not talking to the media. “If I don’t say anything you come away from the press conference and say it’s boring. If I say something, I’m scaremongering.” – AFP