Jones is just like cocky Clough, says Wales defence king Shaun OLD BIG ’EDDIE

SHAUN EDWARDS says Eddie Jones is the Brian Clough of rugby and that his team are the best in the business right now.

The Wales defence coach is charged with stopping a rampant England in Cardiff on Saturday. Jones’ men have won an English record 15 consecutive Tests, scoring 57 tries and conceding just 25 and Edwards admitted: “We are going into huge challenge against definitely the form team in world rugby.” Jones (left) has not only masterminded success on the field, he has won pretty much every mindgame off it too. This week he has been at it again, seizing the media agenda before the opposition had a chance to open their mouths. “He’s a clever bloke is Eddie,” conceded Edwards (right), in response to the wily Aussie’s claim that English players are “petrified” of playing Wales in Cardiff. “I think that’s just another way of him throwing down a challenge to his players. It’s smart coaching. And it’s great for the game. You want characters in the game.

“You’ve seen it in the past with football managers like Brian Clough, people like that. They were a bit outspoken, weren’t they?”

Clough won back-to-back European Cups with unfashionable Nottingham Forest and famously declared: “I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one.”

Jones is not one to blow his own trumpet, but sees huge value in controlling the news agenda on behalf of his team.

“You’ve got to be right on your game, thinking one step ahead of the media,” he explained. “Because the media wants headlines, not stories about the person next door who’s just doing his job nicely.

“You’ve got to be mentally sharp, creating the media environment for your team that you want.”

This week that meant highlighting the historical underachievement of England teams playing in Wales.

By doing so he not only put his players on edge – and made clear the improvement he expects after last week’s “awful” display against France – he prevented Wales from getting on the front foot in the phoney war.

Saying he is not bothered if they open the roof or not, inviting the crowd to be boisterous, smiling at the prospect of everything – including daffodils – being thrown at his team, left the opposition little to get stuck into England with.

“I like his attitude,” said Edwards, on Jones’ indifference to the perennial roof question. “That’s the kind of bloke Eddie is, good on him. I think he’s great for rugby.” Of course, the rugby league legend did not win three Six Nations crowns, two with Grand Slams, without being a formidable competitor himself. And he had this warning for England. “A big part of winning a Six Nations is keeping 15 players on the pitch for all the games. Discipline is vital, ours was excellent in Italy and that’s a big thing going into this game.”

England, as Edwards well knows, have had one player sent off and three sin-binned in their past three games.