Eddie: I’ve known since 2015 that England can beat New Zealand and rule the world

EDDIE JONES claimed last night that he has felt from the very start England had a group of players capable of beating the All Blacks in this World Cup.

“From the first day I got the job in 2015,” he reiterated. “I wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t think we could be the best in the world.”

Jones has said a vast array of things in the run-up to Test matches in his 48-game Red

Rose career – only nine of which have ended in defeat.

Separating the man from the myth is not always easy but one player who knows the real Jones insists that, for all the noise and circus that surrounds him, Fast Eddie has been “brilliant” for England. Dylan Hartley (with Jones, above) captained England 30 times, losing only four matches. As Jones’ right-hand man he led them to a Grand Slam, a Six Nations title and a world record-equalling run of 18 successive wins. “Eddie is a competitor and that is what you want from a coach,” said England’s second most-capped player.

“He talks openly about winning and the more you talk about winning the more you want to be a winner. “For too long we have tiptoed around the idea of being a winning English rugby team. “There is nothing wrong with saying you want to win. “We get caught up with being respectful and humble but we are there to win, and Eddie communicates that to a T – and publicly.

“A lot of the personality that you guys crave in the media is drummed out of the players. They are too cautious, they are too aware.

Since day one Eddie has spoken about winning this World Cup and becoming the best team in the world.

“He brings colour and he brings personality along with being a bloody good coach.” As to how Jones will prepare his team for tomorrow’s semi-final, Hartley said: “Four years’ worth of work has got England to this point. They will be preparing like they are going to win this game and push on.

“How do I know this? Because Eddie is fairly consistent with his preparation, with his words and how he carries himself around the team.

“He is meticulous in everything he does.”

■ DYLAN HARTLEY was taking part in the Jeep Wrangler Trick Shot Challenge. Learn the skills to carry out your own challenge here: www.jeep.co.uk/ news/trickshot