Rugby: Eddie Jones loses key team member one year out from Rugby World Cup

England coach Eddie Jones. Photo / Getty

Eddie Jones and his obsessive ways appear to have claimed another victim with a third member of the senior England management team set to depart, one year out from the World Cup.

According to The Times, Dean Benton will move on from his role as head of sports science. In isolation Benton's departure would not be such a blow. But the bodies are fast adding up.

Paul Gustard walked away from his role as English defence coach to assume the Director of Rugby title at Harlequins this season, and has yet to be replaced.

Gusard denied being unhappy under Jones but did compare match-day under Jones to having the "sword of Damocles hanging over my head" and saying "the tension never goes".

John Mitchell is expected to step in next and take on Gustard's defence brief, once a compensation agreement is reached with the Bulls, where the former All Blacks coach will leave another club prematurely.

As it stands, England have no full-time defence or attack coach after Rory Teague left to lead the French Top 14's Bordeaux-Begles in May.

Jones is notorious for being a hard taskmaster, and calling staff at all hours. Clearly, that lifestyle is not for everyone.

England have lost five of their last six tests, winning only the third dead rubber against the Springboks in June.

It is a far cry from the wave of positivity the Australian started with as England rode an 18 match winning streak.

How the tables have turned.

Jones will instead be under immense pressure to rectify his recent record when England hosts the All Blacks, the Wallabies, Boks and Japan in November.

Otherwise, a World Cup pool that includes Argentina and France will only look more daunting.