Mains wary of the Eddie Jones factor

The last All Blacks coach to face England in a Rugby World Cup playoff match says their superior strikepower will be decisive tonight, but is wary of the ‘clever little bugger’ trying to plot their downfall.

Laurie Mains was at the helm when the All Blacks produced one of their great performances, a 45-29 semifinal win over England in Cape Town in 1995.

Twenty-four years on, Mains is confident the All Blacks will book their spot in the decider against South Africa or Wales, but predicts a tough and close semifinal.

‘‘England have the physical ability in midfield and in their forwards to compete with the All Blacks, but we have better strike power and a better gameplan, in my opinion, to allow us to score tries,’’ Mains said.

‘‘I do expect it will be pretty tough because Eddie Jones – I haven’t always admired the way he’s coached rugby teams – but he’s a clever little bugger and he’ll have a difficult gameplan for the All Blacks to counter.’’

Mains didn’t think Jones would pull any rabbits out of a hat in tonight’s semifinal, but said England had enough physicality to do what every coach wants: nullify their opponents’ strengths.

‘‘I don’t believe they will kick ball away. It will either go out or above, on Eddie Jones

it probably won’t be kicked. They’re not going to give the All Blacks a chance to counter attack.

‘‘But if they get good goforward ball I’d expect they would use it in an enterprising way. One thing with Eddie Jones when he had the Brumbies and Australia, he didn’t mind running the ball.’’

Mains was happy Welshman Nigel Owens is refereeing the semifinal.

‘‘He’s clearly the best around at the moment and, from watching him, he does his damnedest to be fair to both teams and that’s all you can ask for. And he’s quick of mind and gets himself in good positions on the field to see what’s going on.’’

One of Mains’ players from that 1995 campaign, centre Frank Bunce, said New Zealand v England would be a worthy final on recent evidence.

‘‘It’ll be a bloody tough one. Clearly the two best teams in the competition, I think, and it could almost overshadow the final, it’s that big a game,’’ Bunce said.

‘‘We’re a better all-round team but their forward pack is so well drilled. I don’t quite think England have the creativity that we do in the back. They may be a little bit limited getting it through the midfield under real pressure because they’ve got some really good outside backs.’’

The All Blacks’ form and confidence from their big quarterfinal win over Ireland, and the number of experienced heads in their ranks, bodes well for them, Bunce said.

‘‘I feel we’re in really good shape. That Ireland game was outstanding and even that first Springboks game. The good thing is the All Blacks can string together 2-3-4 big games in a row whereas some other sides can’t.

‘‘Our experience will count for a lot, and the form we’re in and the confidence the guys have in themselves. It’s kind of how we were in 1995, we knew we were playing good rugby and were confident in ourselves and our mate next to us. That means a lot.’’

‘‘He’ll have a difficult gameplan for the All Blacks to counter.’’ Laurie Mains