Jones: School run can wait, it’s the World Cup, boyo
Stephen Jones should have been on the school run this week, dropping off his three children before making his way around the regional sides in Wales, checking with the coaches on the latest talent emerging in the ranks.
Instead, he is tasked with replacing the Wales attack coach of the past 12 years, Rob Howley, the same attack coach Jones played under when he won the last of his 110 test caps.
You could certainly forgive the 41-year-old for feeling overwhelmed. “It was a bit of a shock. It’s been manic, but what a wonderful welcome I have had from the boys and the management,” Jones says after Wales arrived in Tokyo yesterday after their opening 43-14 victory over Georgia in Toyota.
Jones was at home in Cardiff when the phone rang informing him that his role as Wales attack coach, due after the World Cup under incoming head coach Wayne Pivac, would start now.
“When I got the call, it was a straightaway decision. I’m very fortunate that I have a supportive wife as well,” he admits with a wide smile.
“It’s a wonderful environment, you look at each department, how they function. Everybody knows their role and they do it very well from a management perspective. The boys, characters, their knowledge of the game, it’s been huge positives.”
Jones arrived only a week ago, with his influence on early tactics limited as a result. Dan Biggar and Jonathan Davies, the two senior backs, played a major role in the planning to face Georgia, when Wales raced into a 29-0 halftime lead, having scored four tries.
Wing Josh Adams, one of the six Wales tryscorers, described the arrival of Jones as seamless.
“Obviously, there is a wonderful foundation in place. There are a lot of good things in the library already,” Jones adds, referring to the work done by Howley. The pair have not spoken since he was sent home for an alleged breach of betting regulations.
“I have worked with a number of the players and management before. The senior players were excellent — they took the helm and took the lead — which was great.
“I was happy [with the Georgia performance]. I thought some of the running lines were good, our ball movement was decent. But I would say the good thing for us is there is plenty to work on, which is the exciting part.
“Gats [head coach Warren Gatland] has been excellent and said I can evolve things slowly, but obviously I am conscious there is going to be limited grass time, but where I am fortunate is that there are so many good things in place.”
Tempting as it must have been to start implementing the new strategies, Jones has resisted them.
“Definitely not. We have caught up
as a management group, Wayne [Pivac], myself, Byron [Hayward] and Jonathan [Humphreys]. We have had discussions about certain things but what’s been fascinating, and wonderful for me and hugely beneficial is that I’ve been in this environment and learnt so much, so it will make the transition a lot easier.”
Wales will certainly need all hands to the pump if they are to see off Australia on Sunday at Tokyo Stadium, the standout fixture in the tournament’s second week.
Only last November did Wales finally end their hoodoo against the Wallabies, ending a run of 13 straight defeats dating back to 2008, a victory that Jones actually played in himself, scoring 11 points. That result will do wonders for confidence this week.
“It’s fantastic, isn’t it? Last time out, Wales were successful against Australia. It will be a massive occasion and it’s the one as players and coaches that you love, big sporting moments.
“Australia have lots of talented players. But I look at it from our perspective and our boys will be looking forward to that challenge of going up against those boys. We have got some wonderful players regarding skill-sets, athletic ability, work rate off the ball. It’s exciting from our end.”
The school-run duties will have to wait for a few weeks. Perhaps even until November, after the World Cup final, providing Wales find a way past Australia.