Jones encourages England to ‘climb Everest’
Coach wants team to ‘go at’ New Zealand
LONDON: England coach Eddie Jones compared playing New Zealand to climbing Everest as he urged his side to scale a mountainous challenge against the All Blacks at Twickenham today.
England have won just eight out of 42 Tests, including one draw, against the All Blacks — a success rate of a mere 19 percent.
But their last meeting against New Zealand saw England triumph 19-7 in a 2019 World Cup semi-final.
“Everyone’s excited. This is like if you’re a mountain climber going to the top of Mount Everest,” Jones said ahead of the Autumn Nations series international.
“New Zealand are historically the most successful team in world rugby and the team you want to play against.
“It takes a massive effort to beat them and our players understand that. We’re prepared for it. We’re going after them, they’re not coming after us.”
The veteran Australian coach, asked why so many teams have struggled against the All Blacks down the years, replied: “It’s always in the head, it’s always in the head. You either make a decision to go at them or you’re going to be a spectator.”
Jones has made three personnel changes to his starting side following last week’s 52-13 rout of Japan, recalling wing Jack Nowell, powerhouse centre Manu Tuilagi and No.8 Billy Vunipola in a team where captain Owen Farrell will win his 100th cap for England.
Meanwhile, New Zealand coach Ian Foster hailed Brodie Retallick as the “heart and soul” of the All Blacks as the lock prepared to win his 100th Test cap.
Retallick has been recalled to the starting XV for today’s match against England following suspension.
The 31-year-old second-row was banned for two weeks for dangerous play during the All Blacks’ 38-31 win over Japan in Tokyo last month after being sent off for charging into a ruck and missed New Zealand’s recent wins over Wales and Scotland.
Retallick will become the 12th All Black to reach the milestone and just the second lock alongside captain Samuel Whitelock.
The pair will also set a new second-row world record of 64 Test starts together this weekend, with the previous best of 63 held by South Africa’s Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield.
“He [Retallick] has been there since 2012,” Foster said.
“He’s been a massive part of that engine room of an All Black pack for a long time. He’s multi-skilled, he’s got that tough edge to him, but he’s also got that skill edge around the park, that’s been a big feature of his game.
“He is a major contributor behind the scenes. He’s the heart and soul of our group.”
IRELAND SEEK RECORD
Ireland host Australia in their final international of the year bidding for a record-equalling 12th successive home Test success today and frank their status as the top-ranked rugby team in the world.
The Irish last won 12 consecutive home Tests between November 2016 and November 2018.
Andy Farrell’s men will fancy their chances of matching that against an Australian side smarting from a historic defeat by Italy last weekend — albeit a much changed Wallabies starting XV from that game.
Australia coach Dave Rennie is a man under pressure, with many, like former Wallaby star Stirling Mortlock, already dismissing their chances of winning next year’s World Cup.
With a record of just four wins in 12 Tests this year a head coach’s position would be at risk.
With the likes of the experienced Bernard Foley and Nic White returning at flyhalf and scrum-half respectively, Rennie will be expecting a far better showing against the world’s No.1 ranked side.
“I know we’ve got a very determined squad, we want to make a statement this weekend,” said Rennie.