Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has given a fascinating insight into some of the biggest characters in the looming Six Nations as he launched his own weekly podcast.
In episode one, Jones related a story about the resilience of his England replacement Steve Borthwick, his admiration for three of the world’s great playmakers, what makes French ace Antoine Dupont the world’s best player and how Warren Gatland will change Wales.
It’s a case of Jones being Eddie Everywhere at the moment with Rugby Australia making the most of his return and the tireless coach seemingly happy to push the message wide and far that the code is fighting back down under.
The podcast, alongside his mate and media advisor David Pembroke, promises plenty in the lead up to the World Cup.
In the debut edition Jones gave his predictions for the opening round of the Six Nations starting this weekend, and did so in typically forthright and entertaining style.
Jones, of course, was at the helm of England for the past seven Six Nations championships after joining in 2015, winning the Grand Slam at his first attempt. He spoke of the challenge of having the players primed for their three games.
“You basically have four training sessions,” said Jones. ” And what you’re trying to do is firstly build some cohesion in the way you play.
“So you trying to get them all on the same page, use the same language. You’re just trying to get the right emotional pitch within the week. You don’t want to go too early. You don’t want to go too late.
“You want them perfectly aroused at kick off – you don’t want them over-aroused before kickoff. Sometimes you can play it down too much.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
“So it’s getting that right message.”
With results tailing off in the past two seasons, he was let go by England and replaced by Steve Borthwick, whom he gave his first shot of coaching experience while coach of Japan.
“When I went to Saracens he was the first player I signed,” said Jones. “I signed him as captain to build a championship team and he ended up doing that.
“I remember his first coaching session as a coach. He played for Saracens in the final, and he ripped his pec so he was missing one of his pecs. He played in the final they got beaten in a controversial circumstances and he flew that night of the final to Canada.
“Japan was playing Canada the following Saturday. I think it was on Monday we had scrum session and we were missing a lock. So he packed in at lock with only one pec. And pushed and pushed and did all the lineout work.
“It was his first coaching job. He’s a good fellow, a good coach, very serious about winning and he’ll do a fantastic job and I’m really proud of him.”
Jones was also glowing in praise for Owen Farrell – the man he replaced as skipper for the tour Down Under last year, and moved aside from the No.10 jersey to accommodate Marcus Smith.
“He’s a bloke that always gives his best. He’s driven. He’s a player that you’d like to play with it because he’s tough.
“He reminded me a lot of George Gregan – uncompromising: ‘You don’t like what I say then get off the bus’.
He’s played 100 Tests, he’s won every trophy apart from the World Cup where he has a silver medal. So he’s got a pretty good track record. Because he’s one of those guys that doesn’t give the press much, doesn’t engage, he doesn’t get much love from the media.”
Jones seems similarly enamoured by Scotland’s Finn Russell ahead of the Calcutta Cup match against England.
“Will Finn Russell play? If Finn Russell plays he gives Scotland an outstanding chance to win,” said Jones.
Russell has clashed with coach Gregor Townsend to fall out of favour.
[Scotland] want to break the game up. The English want to be organised. And so you’ve got this contrast between the structure and organisation and power of England, and the unstructured chaotic nature of Scottish rugby,” Jones said.
“Gregor Townsend was a 10 that played that way. He was an older version of Finn Russell – that’s probably why he and Finn Russell don’t get on because he sees Finn Russell in the mirror – doesn’t want to listen to the plays. Just let me play.”
Jones tipped an England win in that game – by a Farrell penalty kick from 45 metres. He predicts a win for Ireland over Wales and Italy to give France a strong game before fading late.
Ireland are ne of the World Cup favourites for later in the year, but Jones believes their hopes might be too reliant on the fitness of Johnny Sexton.
“Sexton, at 37, is getting towards the end of his career. But when he plays he’s physically capable of allowing his brain, which works at a pretty fast pace, to be advantageous for the team. And he’s a real difference between Ireland being very strong and Ireland being average,” Jones said.
“They’re a good team, a good hard working pack of forwards, and they’re all built on a system put together by the ex Brumbies coach David Nucifora – where all the provinces work together for the benefit of Ireland.
“They’re motoring along really well as opposed to Wales. Tough, tough team Wales and they’ve got Warren Gatland back.
“It’s interesting with Warren. Had a great run with Wales, went back to the Chiefs wasn’t so successful, got moved to be director of rugby, didn’t enjoy that because he likes to coach and Warren if you look at his record, has always produced tough teams.
“I’d be very surprised if Ireland don’t win. I think Wales are going to surprise a few people and Gatland has got this mystique of coming back to Wales.
“One of the things that the players all spoke about on the Lions tour was that Gatland has a way to make you feel important. He will make them all believe they can beat Ireland. It’s one of those one of those little tricky games but I think Ireland probably should have enough in the tank.”
Jones, like many other judges, places Dupont at the top of the game right now.
(Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
“He’s built like a tighthead prop without any of the excess. As strong as a tighthead prop. Got the speed of Usain Bolt and the agility of Matt Giteau,” said Jones.
“You put all those in one package that’s pretty good. And he’s a young guy and he’s just at it all the time. You look at his eyes. He’s got those Richie McCaw eyes. He’s just at it all the time. Wants to be in front all the time.”
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