That Jones joker: He’s a good bloke

Once a fortnight All Blacks coach Steve Hansen scrolls through the address index on his phone to find the digits belonging to England counterpart Eddie Jones.

Sometimes they chat, on other occasions they communicate via text messages.

Clearly the men get along, even if Hansen admits Jones ‘‘isn’t everyone’s cup of tea’’.

This goes some way to explaining the unexpected turn of events when Hansen spoke to media in London yesterday.

The highly anticipated test between the All Blacks and England at Twickenham might be just days away, it will be the first time the two countries have squared off since 2014, but rather than needle his rival ahead of the blockbuster game Hansen elected to have a flick at Jones’s critics instead.

Although England has acquired consecutive wins over South Africa, Jones’ methods continue to be questioned. The five consecutive defeats that preceded those successes haven’t been forgotten.

‘‘They only people that don’t understand what it’s like to be a head coach of an international team are the people have never been one,’’ Hansen said.

‘‘There is a lot of pressure there all the time, whether you are winning or losing. It’s just in a different wrapper.’’

Jones made a dream start after replacing Stuart Lancaster following England’s shambolic World Cup campaign in 2015, winning 25 of the first 26 tests in charge. Then came the defeats, followed by a turnover in support staff, and questions about whether Jones really was the right man for the job.

The expectations are always high for those running the big tier-one test teams, explained Hansen. It’s not an industry for the meek.

‘‘Eddie, more than anybody, understands that. So he’s not too bothered by it. The people who get excited by it are the people that have to write the stories and sell the newspapers.

‘‘Winning doesn’t make it any less pressure. It just comes in a different package. But you know there will be pressure with the job. You accept that and get on with it.’’

Hansen said that when he and Jones communicate, they don’t limit their discussions to issues relating to rugby.

‘‘It’s always good to have other people who are doing a similar role to yourself, to be able to talk to.

‘‘But, first and foremost, you have to have some sort of relationship that allows you to get on with each other. You don’t ring up people you don’t like, just because they are doing the same job as you.

‘‘The bottom line is we talk and our wives talk. And that’s not surprising. As I said I think he’s a good bloke.’’

After England beat South Africa 12-11 at Twickenham last weekend, Jones hardly lacked confidence when he talked up his team’s chances of beating the All Blacks. Yet he would find few people to back his team, given that scratchy win and its recent form.

Sending an advance party of 23 top All Blacks to London to recover from jet lag and prepare for this upcoming test, while a second-string side played Japan in Tokyo, means Hansen will able to select players who, unlike England, aren’t nursing battered bodies.

The All Blacks are favoured to beat England, no doubt about it.

Yet Hansen wasn’t surprised Jones was so bullish in the wake of the triumph over the Springboks.

‘‘No. It’s his job to be confident. You would expect him to be confident. He’s a passionate man, Eddie. I have got a lot of time for him, a lot of respect for him. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I think he’s a good man.’’

‘‘He’s a passionate man, Eddie. I have got a lot of time for him, a lot of respect for him. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I think he’s a good man.’’ Steve Hansen, above, on Eddie Jones, below