Eddie Jones takes the blame after Joe Marler was left on duty

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Eddie Jones admits the role his mismanagement of replacing Luke Cowan-Dickie played in England’s dramatic 20-17 loss to Scotland.

Cowan-Dickie was sent to the trash for a deliberate hit that prevented Darcy Graham from scoring a likely try in a tense final quarter of the Guinness Six Nations opener at Murrayfield.

Instead of bringing in Jamie George as hooker coverage specialist, Jones kept his back row intact only for the decision to backfire when it meant prop Joe Marler had to step in at the lineout.

Marler’s throw failed to travel five yards and from the resulting scrum, England conceded a penalty which Finn Russell used to land the winning kick.

“We thought we could wait for a scrimmage because we wanted to keep the rowers back at this point,” Jones said.

“Scotland were circulating the ball well. We thought we needed that third back rower. Certainly I take the blame for that.

Jones, however, is happy with his controversial decision to drop the exceptional Marcus Smith, amid criticism over his removal of the 22-year-old playmaker.

Smith scored all 17 for England and had just completed a dynamic try and picked up a penalty when he was substituted by George Ford.

England’s Marcus Smith was replaced by his side leading 17-10. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA

It was a risky call to take off their increasingly influential half and England duly crumbled as a 17-10 lead was overturned first by Cowan-Dickie’s penalty try , then by Russell’s penalty.

“It’s a team of 23 players. We felt George could come in and do a job for us in the last 20 minutes,” Jones said when asked to explain the substitution.

For the third consecutive year, England opened the Six Nations with defeat in a major setback after a successful autumn that ended with victory over world champions South Africa.

Next up is Sunday’s trip to Italy and Jones insists the plan remains the same despite failing to turn their dominance at Murrayfield into a win.

“It doesn’t change anything. Next game we will get as many points as possible,” he said.

“And then the next game we’ll get as many points as possible, the next game we’ll get as many points as possible, then we’ll be in the last game and if we’re chasing the trophy, it’s fine.

“If we are not, we will have played good rugby. Obviously we want to win the competition, but that doesn’t change our approach to the competition.

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