You SHALL get to the ball
WISEMANTEL PLOTS ‘CINDERELLA’ VICTORY
EDDIE JONES’ new attack coach says England going from Six Nations flops to history-makers in three months would be a ‘Cinderella’ story.
Scott Wisemantel has been hired on a five-month deal to make sure England not only get to the ball, but do something with it.
Jones’ team require a ragsto-riches transformation to turn the nation’s worst championship finish for 35 years into a first-ever series win in South Africa.
But Wisemantel – the latest Aussie added to England’s backroom staff – insists it is the size of that task which has attracted him halfway across the world.
And he vows to challenge Jones (right) to embrace his attacking theories as much as the players to deliver results with them.
“It’s not easy standing up to Eddie, but that’s a real relationship, isn’t it?” said the 48-year-old. “If I disagree, I disagree and then we have the debate and vice versa.
“That’s one of Eddie’s great strengths. He’ll pick the eyes out of your programme, ask why you’re doing things, have the debate, have the argument and then move on.
“I don’t think there are winners and losers. You come out and you feel challenged, but you know what the rules are and you move on. That’s part of being a team.”
The pair have worked together twice before and Wisemantel admits to some “pretty strong” debates.
Asked if they ever escalated into shouting matches, he replied: “It depends what decibel you’re monitoring.”
But, after four straight defeats – including Sunday’s chastening non-cap loss to the Barbarians – Jones acknowledges the need for a fresh pair of eyes and his old mate brings a timely energy and new perspective. “To go from fifth in the Six Nations to winning in South Africa is a Cinderella story, if it happens,” said Wisemantel, after a training session in which neither Mike Brown nor Danny Cipriani featured.
“But I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t believe England have the players to win the series and I can make an improvement.”
Premiership rugby boss Mark McCafferty says club and country relations have “hit a roadblock” after Jones admonished Bath owner Bruce Craig for crying foul over the injury rate in England training.
The matter has been referred to the Professional Game Board and McCafferty said: “The only way the English system works is through collaboration. We’ve got to see how significant that roadblock is and find a way around it.”