Eddie Jones shapes the perfect year for England rugby
What a difference a year makes. After a dreadful 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign, which frankly pretty much shamed a nation, English rugby was battered, beaten and in need of life support. Change was necessary and urgent. With credit to the RFU – and that’s not something we perhaps often say – they went big, and they went bold.
Eddie Jones was born to a Japanese-American mother and Aussie father in Tasmania, in 1960. His playing career was unspectacular, representing Randwick and New South Wales, and a very brief three-match stint with Leicester in the 1991/2 season. As a hooker by trade, he had the misfortune to be around when Tom Lawton and Phil Kearns were establishing themselves. These two clocked up 108 appearances for Australia between them – how Jones must have hated them.
But an impressive and imaginative coaching career began for Jones with Randwick in 1994, the start of a journey which took in outposts like Tokai University and Suntory Sungoliath, before becoming Head Coach of the Wallabies in 2001. During his tenure he had to endure England Rugby’s greatest ever day, when Sir Clive Woodward’s brilliant side won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 on – horror of horrors – Australian soil.
Little did we know then, witnessing the look of man who probably hated losing more than anything else, that Jones would eventually come full circle from that point and arrive as England’s Head Coach last year.
Mind you, World Cups were not always cruel to Jones – he masterminded the astonishing victory for Japan over South Africa at RWC 2015 which sent shockwaves through the rugby world. That was a result that will be forever etched in RWC history, and rightly so.
England’s showing at the same tournament was dire. Awful performance after awful performance, the ill-advised parachuting into the team of Rugby League convert Sam Burgess, and serial dithering from Head Coach Stuart Lancaster in key positions and partnerships…England got what they deserved – nothing.
Eliminated at the pool stage of your home World Cup, with all the wealth and resources at your disposal – England frankly stank the place out. Change was desperately needed. Whilst everyone respected Lancaster’s professionalism and integrity, many felt he just did not have the force of personality to inspire.
Lancaster’s low-key playing career took in Wakefield, Headingley and Leeds. His post-playing career began with a spell as Director of Rugby at Leeds Carnegie, but his route to the England job was to come through the ranks at the RFU, heading up the Elite Rugby division and running the Saxons team. He was very much an RFU man.
Whilst Lancaster worked hard at restoring pride in playing for the jersey and setting standards for behaviour, he never remotely looked like turning England into winners on the pitch. When his big chance arrived at England’s own World Cup – he blew it. Too much time was spent trying to establish the perfect culture at the expense of winning matches.
Jones, meanwhile, prior to Coaching Japan, was building his CV with stints at Saracens and as an Assistant Coach to the Springboks. Eager to take on new challenges, eager to broaden his education. Plus, like so many Aussie sportsmen, he had that bit of “dog” in him. Would the RFU see him as a suitable replacement for Lancaster? Many thought not – perhaps the cultural differences between Tasmania and Twickenham were a bridge too far.
But Jones did indeed land the big one, and was unveiled as England Head Coach in November 2015. Since then, his record is impeccable – played thirteen, won thirteen. The Six Nations championship was won with comparative ease, and even better was to follow with an unprecedented three out of three wins against Australia in England’s summer tour. These victories were hugely impressive, a massive marker put down against the old enemy. This was a new, hardened England, playing with a brutish pack and backs that will punish you given half a chance. Above all, the spirit and ferocious will to win were England’s trump cards that the Aussies had no answer to. Playing a high-pressure game, forcing the opposition into errors, it pushed England up to second in the world rankings behind the All-Blacks.
Since then, the traditional autumn internationals have just concluded, pitting southern against northern hemisphere once again. It’s been a perfect clean-sweep of victories over South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia. In the final match on Saturday against Australia, England proved their resilience, overcoming a shaky start and some fine Australian running rugby, to win 37-21. The second half saw England pull away with ease, playing some fantastic rugby. The perfect end to a perfect year, a 100% record delivered. This team, this squad, this management – everything now has a look and feel of strength and positivity. Dare one say it, there is even a decent amount of dog in this England.
Jones has brought in a new coaching team – highly regarded Paul Gustard from Saracens as Defence Coach, and former England Lock Steve Borthwick as Forwards Coach, who worked with Jones with Japan in RWC 15. (Aussie Glen Ella was added as Skills Coach for the duration of the Australian tour, and before that, former England U20’s Coach Ian Peel joined England for the Six Nations as Scrum Coach). Former Wasps stalwart Alex King was reportedly a target as a permanent Attack Coach, but despite speculation, King himself admitted there was never actually an offer in place for such a role.
Jones has clearly examined every aspect of England’s personnel, their personalities, strengths, weaknesses and the way they’ve previously played. Each component has been tweaked or improved as required, then the master mechanic has put the whole engine back together again. A pretty straightforward way of doing things, many would say – but Jones’s forensic attention to detail holds the key – that’s where he earns his money.
His man-management has been superb so far.Highlights include Chris Robshaw, reinvented under Jones from Blindside to Openside flanker, and coaxing the best out of the combustible Dylan Hartley, who has shown excellent leadership as captain. Jones has shown a lot of trust in George Ford and Owen Farrell to form a formidable 10/12 axis, with the inside centre role covering as a second fly-half, has worked superbly. Ben Youngs at scrum-half has lost weight and gained plaudits galore.
With the emergence of Saracens as the top Club side in England, it’s no surprise that so many of their Englishmen have found their way into Jones’s plans. In Lock Maro Itoje – named breakthrough player of the year at the 2016 World Rugby Awards – Jones is helping to nurture a fantastic natural talent shrewdly and positively. Itoje could well become a rugby superstar, he is that good. In partnership with the terrific George Kruis, this is second row heaven for England right now.
Jones is also media gold dust. Never short of a quip or a colourful description of his thoughts and practices, he has an easy charisma. Never particularly showboating or arrogant, but fair to say Jones knows full well that when he talks, we all listen – and with his England team performing and winning like this, why wouldn’t we?
By Chris Tribe
3rd December 2016
Next game: France (H) – RBS Six Nations– Saturday 4th February 2017, 4.50pm
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