Pressure part of job for England coach
Thirty years after winning their only Eisenhower Trophy world amateur golf title, a new generation of New Zealand golfers are chasing history.
Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora), James Hydes (Gulf Harbour) and Sam Jones (Manaia), near Hawera, have been named in New Zealand’s side for the 32nd world amateur teams championship in Paris from August 31-September 3.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of New Zealand’s Eisenhower Trophy triumph in Vancouver. In 1992, Michael Campbell, Phil Tataurangi, Stephen
Scahill and Grant Moorhead won by three strokes over the United States.
The event was last played in 2018 in Ireland with New Zealand finishing fourth. Denmark were crowned champions for the first time, with the US second and Spain placing third. The 2020 event was cancelled due to Covid-19.
Canterbury’s Kobori has risen to 47th in the world amateur golf rankings (WAGR), following a string of remarkable results this year. He won the Muriwai Open, his maiden Jennian Homes Charles Tour event in April, the 2021 New Zealand Stroke Play, the 2021 South Island Stroke Play, and three district titles.
Hydes has been one of the most consistent performers in recent years. In 2020, he became a Charles Tour champion by winning the Muriwai Open and he won the New Zealand Amateur Championship.
His success has extended internationally, winning the 2021 Welsh Open Stroke Play, finishing third at the 2021 Brabazon Trophy, and finishing second at the 2022 Australian Amateur Championship. Hydes’ WAGR is currently 102nd.
Jones is the third team member and earned his place following his outstanding form of late. In 2020, he won the New Zealand Amateur Championship and the North Island Stroke Play.
This year, he has won the New Zealand Stroke Play and three district titles.
of the best.
The Englishman is a former player, so I expect him to have a good feel for the game. I expect him to run the breakdown and offside line firmly, but to allow some flow. He’ll also have zero tolerance for head contact and, remember,
MH:
Only a guy like Eddie Jones could have an eight-match winning streak over the Wallabies and still be facing questions about his future as England rugby coach.
But ahead of the first test against Australia in Perth, Western Australia, tonight, the Australia-born Jones says he enjoys the pressure and even thrives on it. England arrived in Western Australia last week after losses to Ireland, France and most recently a surprise 52-21 defeat by the Barbarians invitational side.
The often irascible Jones hopes to lead England to their ninth consecutive win over the Wallabies in the opener of a series that includes matches in Brisbane and Sydney over the following two Saturdays. While admitting he was under pressure with the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France approaching, Jones said he wasn’t alone.
He said that New Zealand coach Ian Foster would be feeling similar after a dip in the All Blacks’ results late last year. The All Blacks face Ireland in Auckland tonight in the opening test of a three-match series.
‘‘I think every international coach is under pressure,’’ Jones said. ‘‘I’m under pressure because we haven’t had results good enough, that’s obvious.
‘‘Our expectations are high, the media’s expectations are high, everyone’s expectations high and that’s OK.
‘‘Dave [Wallabies coach Dave Rennie] is under pressure, across the ditch they’re [Foster] under pressure . . . that’s part of the job that we like and enjoy and accept the responsibilities of that pressure.’’
Pick a forward, any forward. That’s where the game will be won or lost for the tourists. The loosies are quality, second row outstanding but where the Irish really have an advantage is in the all-round skill of their props.
Top of that list is Tadhg Furlong, considered the premier tighthead in the world and a brilliant distributor for such a big man.
Ireland No 10 Johnny Sexton. He gets under the skins of the All Blacks because he is constantly trying to referee the game as well as play in it. Sometimes he gets away with it, so the All Blacks will need a strategy to deal with Sexton’s influence.
PC: MH:
What: Wallabies v England, first test Where, when: Optus Stadium, Perth; 9.55pm tonight
Australia: Tom Banks, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Nic White; Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper (captain), Rob Leota, Cadeyrn Neville, Darcy Swain, Allan Ala’alatoa, David Porecki, Angus Bell. Reserves: Folau Fainga’a, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Matt Philip, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Jordan Petaia.
England: Freddie Steward, Jack Nowell, Joe Marchant, Owen Farrell, Joe Cokanasiga, Marcus Smith, Danny Care; Billy Vunipola, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes (captain), Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Will Stuart, Jamie George, Ellis Genge. Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Lewis Ludlam, Jack van Poortlviet, Guy Porter, Henry Arundell.
Rennie has named lock Cadeyrn Neville in the starting side for the opener, making Neville the oldest Wallabies player in more than 20 years to make his test debut.
The 33-year-old Neville was named a confirmed starter on Thursday – 10 years after he was called into the squad without earning a cap.
In 2012, Neville was in his first year playing for the Melbourne Rebels – his first of three Australian Super Rugby sides – when he was drafted into the Wallabies squad to travel to Argentina and then later on a British tour. But he never made it into a match-day 23.
David Porecki will also debut. He spent five years in English rugby with Saracens and London Irish before returning to Australia in 2020.