ON TOP OF THE WORLD ...WELL, NEARLY
Jones is world coach of the year as he plans to make England mightier than the All Blacks
EDDIE JONES was last night named World Rugby coach of the year – and insisted the best is still to come.
Not since Sir Clive Woodward won the prestigious award for steering England to 2003 World Cup glory has a Red Rose boss taken the top gong.
Fresh from presiding over a 22nd win in 23 Tests, Jones (right) is increasingly confident England’s wait to again conquer the world is around the corner.
“We’re slowly developing a game that can challenge New Zealand,” he said after seeing his side finish strongly to defeat Samoa, then hotfooting it to Monaco for the prize giving.
“We’re good, but we’re not bloody good at the moment. That’s what we’re going to become.”
A further reminder of that came with All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett beating England’s star duo Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje to the world player of the year accolade.
Still, Jones’ honour is one the whole squad will deservedly share given that it recognises not only England’s feat in winning nine of 10 in 2017, but also their unbeaten 2016 which preceded it – featuring the first of successive Six Nations titles and an historic 3-0 series whitewash of Australia. Jones’ focus on the World Cup is all-consuming. Grand Slams, Six Nations crowns and tour series whitewashes are welcome, but they are stepping stones.
For him, it is Webb Ellis Cup glory or bust. Think I exaggerate?
Check out his response to being asked whether his players would take motivation from England reaching the Rugby League World Cup final.
“Don’t think so, they haven’t won it,” he said. “They haven’t done anything yet. When they win it, maybe you can get motivated. Certainly not at the moment.”
This quest for improvement is so drilled into his players they talk of little else. And he judges his own performance by the same standards.
“Diligent, doing the basics well, but needs to keep improving,” was his answer when asked by 5 Live’s Sportsweek to rate his own contribution to England’s renaissance. And “don’t get too far ahead of yourself ”. We are all perhaps guilty of that when actually the first hour of each of England’s three performances this autumn have been unremarkable.
Not so the last quarter, however, in which in those three games England have scored eight tries, amassed 50 points and conceded just 15.
That is the ruthless streak which is New Zealand’s point of difference and it has England’s rivals worried.
“The way we are training is bringing out the best in everybody,” said two-try wing Elliot Daly.
“We train at our game intensity. You could again see that in the last 20 minutes. We are a very fit side.”
Next up is the Six Nations and England’s tilt at an historic ‘threepeat’. Jones might be on top of the world today, but he will not rest until his team are up there too.