England coach Eddie Jones slammed for training injury madness that will see Sam Jones and Anthony Watson miss autumn tests

Eddie Jones found himself facing major criticism for the first time as England coach after a controversial training session saw Wasps flanker Sam Jones break his leg and Bath wing Anthony Watson fracture his jaw.

Both players are now set to miss all of England’s end of year internationals against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia at Twickenham beginning in November, with the injuries sparking the kind of "club v country" row that plagued English rugby union during the early years of the professional era.

That Jones’ injury took place while the squad were doing judo in a bid to improve their tackling has only heightened the anger of many within the club game.

As well as the injuries to Jones and Watson, several players have been unable to train ahead of the opening round of European club matches, including England lock George Kruis, who plays for English and European champions Saracens.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall labelled the timing of the England camp in the south coast town of Brighton as “madness” and “flabbergasting”.