Jones: ‘I’d play the All Blacks tomorrow’
England coach Eddie Jones says he would play the All Blacks ‘‘tomorrow’’ and wishes his side did not have to wait until 2018 to test themselves against the world champions.
The much-travelled Australian believed the Wallabies’ performance in the last Bledisloe Cup test showed the gap between the All Blacks and the rest of the world could be closed.
‘‘We’d play them tomorrow because then we would find out where we are up to. I think New Zealand have shown they’re the best team in the world,’’ Jones said before leaving for a training camp in Portugal next week.
‘‘They’ve won the record for most successive test matches which is a great feat and they should be congratulated on that.
Jones said the ‘‘bunch behind New Zealand is very tight’’ with England ranked second, ahead of Australia and South Africa.
‘‘What we’re trying to do is extricate ourselves from it, but Australia last weekend took them to a place they had not been for a while and it showed there is an opportunity to get them.
‘‘One of the things we have to do this month is get our psychology right because history plays a part in influencing test matches.
‘‘The physical side of rugby is always part of the game, but what separates teams is the ability to be psychologically right.
‘‘One of the big things about training camp in Portugal is getting our psychology right because it has not been over a period of time.’’
The Guardian newspaper noted that southern hemisphere teams had won 40 tests and lost 11 in the last six end-of-year series in the northern hemisphere.
Meanwhile, former Wales and British and Irish Lions great Barry John has paid the All Blacks a big compliment.
‘‘They have swept aside every team before them, they are the barometer,’’ John wrote in his regular Walesonline.co.uk column.
‘‘Standard bearers in not only how to win, but also in how to adapt to rule changers quicker than anyone else to ensure they carry on winning.’’
John believes Wales should continue the adventurous approach they displayed in their 3-0 series loss in New Zealand in June, which was ‘‘no disgrace for Wales’’.
He has called for New Zealandborn Gareth Anscombe to replace Dan Biggar at first five-eighth for Wales’ end of season internationals. ‘‘He brings something different to the backline.’’