Eddie Jones insists he is powerless to transform the English system, saying: âIâm not Alexander the Great.â
Unions oversee the domestic provinces with the vast majority of Englandâs major international rivals, enabling them to set the playersâ salaries, workload and position on the pitch.
But in the Gallagher Premiership and French Top 14, clubs retain control of the players and often have conflicting interests that lead to less joined-up thinking.
âIâm not Alexander the Great. This structure has been set up for years and youâre expecting a little Aussie like me to break it in three years,â England head coach Jones said.
âUnless you break it there will be no change, but I canât control it and am happy to work with what we have.
âWe can have discussions about what position a player should play, but the coaches get paid to make their clubs win.
âItâs not like the provinces in New Zealand or Australia or South Africa where they have a responsibility to the national team.
âThatâs the structure and we work with it. Weâve got a responsibility to work with the clubs and we do that to a large extent. Thereâs always conflict, but weâve established good relationships.â
England were exposed at the breakdown during the Six Nations and recent tour to South Africa, largely because of the way it is approached and refereed on these shores.
Jones, however, has no say in how the game is officiated and what tactics clubs should use.
âItâs not my job to influence how the Premiership is played and I donât think they would welcome it,â Jones said.
âThe only thing I can affect is how the breakdownâs refereed in the international game and there are ongoing discussions with coaches and referees about that.â
Englandâs next assignment is a brutal autumn series against South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia.