Jones: This year decides World Cup
NEW world champion Rob Cross has revealed how he missed the birth of his third child in April because of his dedication to making a career out of darts.
Cross, 27, was still trying to take it all in yesterday after his sensational 7-2 defeat of Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor in the Ally Pally final on Monday.
‘Voltage’ spent yesterday morning at his dart sponsor Target in Harlow, dashing between a series of interviews and running on adrenaline. “I didn’t sleep much,” said Cross. “It was definitely a struggle.”
A professional for only 11 months, Cross is now £400,000 richer after lifting the title on his debut at the William Hill World Championship, knowing the support from his family is one of the major reasons he has become so successful.
Never more so than eight months ago when he was playing in Barnsley and daughter Maddison arrived in the world. “I missed the birth through darts,” said Cross, who is from Hastings.
“The dedication side of it at that time, that early in the year, meant that I had to play everything because I wanted to qualify for the World Matchplay.
“The missus pushed me to do it. I said I would make the birth and she said, ‘No, you can’t, get to the Matchplay and try to kick on’. I am very fortunate that my other half, Georgia, is with me and will push me to do that.”
The former electrician reached the second round of the Matchplay, a big step on the path which took him into the top 20 before his amazing run at Alexandra Palace, where he beat defending champion Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals, then Taylor in his final match.
Cross was gushing when talking about his family – they also have a six-year-old son, Leyton, and daughter Imogen, three – and how life has changed for a man who used to wake up for work at 4.30am but since February has now earned more than £600,000 in prize money.
Cross said: “To make £400,000 I would probably have to work roughly about 10 years, with say a bit of overtime. I would really TROPHY: Taylor to be honoured EDDIE JONES has always seemed a coach ahead of his time but he has surpassed himself by claiming 2018 is the year England win or lose the 2019 World Cup.
The Australian’s squad finished a two-day training camp in Brighton yesterday, which is the last time they will meet before Jones names his Six Nations squad on January 18.
England have that tournament, three Tests in South Africa and four autumn internationals before the World Cup year.
And Jones says this run of games, which includes a match against the All Blacks in November, and how they adapt will determine their fate in Japan. He said: “2018 is when you win or lose a World Cup – your planning, preparation, and developing a team that is tough enough, resilient enough and adaptable enough to win a World Cup.
“The game is evolving. Defence is going to evolve over the next 24 months, sides have defended a certain way and that is going to change with some law interpretation changes. We want to be at the head of that queue of how you defend.
“Attack again will be a consequence of defence changing – you need to attack in a number of ways.
“Thirty years ago eight forwards went to every breakdown, 10 years ago you had four forwards, three years ago you had three forwards.
“Now you want to win a breakdown, if you can, with a ball carrier plus one. That is a whole new skill.” Meanwhile, Jones has backed his skipper, Dylan Hartley, following criticism from World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio after his struggling club Northampton lost 50-21 at Harlequins.
Dallaglio said Hartley’s form is not good enough for a club and national captain but Jones said: “It’s been a tough time for him. As long as Dylan’s attitude is right, his body’s right, he brings something to the table we need – and that is strong leadership.”