EDDIE’S WEIRD AND WONDERFUL APPROACH TO TRAINING
HOT TROUSERS
Sitting on the bench is not so bad if you are wearing a £315 pair of heated trousers. The idea was pinched from British Cycling, whose athletes wore them at 2012 to heat their muscles (Victoria Pendleton pictured, bottom right). They generate heat up to 38C to ensure the finishers are ready for action when called upon.
SCRUMMAGING AGAINST THE ENEMY
The forward pack have stepped into enemy territory to stage unique scrum sessions against Wales and Georgia. Rather than smash shoulders with team-mates, the forwards have engaged in full-intensity drills with rival nations to replicate the aggression and physicality of a Test
match.
HOCKEY MASTERCLASSES
No expense is spared by the RFU but Jones was particularly taken by GB Hockey’s 10x4metre shed, featuring a Subbuteo pitch. Coach Danny Kerry was invited into camp after winning Olympic gold in 2016. After a short meeting, Kerry claimed he was ‘brought in, plugged in, downloaded and then “thank you very much”’ — and later received an email from Jones’ PA asking for contact details for the shed supplier!
VISUAL AWARENESS COACHING
Dr Sherylle Calder has spent time at Pennyhill Park improving the players’ peripheral vision. The EyeGym training is also designed to enhance reaction times and coordination. Players were previously warned to limit the use of mobile phones because the small screens limit eye movement.
BRING OUT THE FAIRY LIQUID
Lineout guru Steve Borthwick has found novel ways of taking the hookers out of their comfort zone. To mimic the challenges of fatigue, Dylan Hartley and Jamie George practise throw-ins whilst wearing boxing gloves, with the ball covered in slippery fairy liquid… whilst balancing on a wobbly ball.
TOUR DE FRANCE
Rather than head to the beach, Jones spent last summer following the Tour de France with the Orica-Scott team. England are constantly looking at improving fitness and took lessons from cycling’s endurance. ‘The cyclists ride 240 kilometres and then have a 45-minute cycle to their bus,’ said Jones. ‘Cyclists deal with that and staying in two-star hotels: they will put up with anything to get the job done.’
DRONES
Spider Aerial Filming, a company that specialises in aerial shots for high-budget television shows such as Downton Abbey, were enlisted to provide training clips. The drones cost around £3,000 each and hover above training to produce footage on running lines and team shape. Coaches can watch live recordings on a 19-inch LED television monitor at the side of the training pitch.
ODD BALLS
The half-netball, half-rugby ball is a popular choice. Jones likes to mix up the types of ball used in training to help improve skills. The aim is to improve dexterity — with players even training with half-half balls in the warm-up before a big Test.
FOOTBALL MANAGERS
West Ham boss David Moyes was due in camp this week but the Scot sent his assistant, Stuart Pearce, instead. Jones has collaborated with a long list of coaches, including Arsene Wenger, Antonio Conte and Gareth Southgate. His first encounter was with Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich and he was impressed by the intensity of the 20-minute sessions which focused on finding space.
CONSULTANTS
Steve Borthwick, Neal Hatley and Paul Gustard have been the constant figures in Jones’ backroom. But the Australian likes to keep people on their toes and there has been a revolving door of short-term consultants. These include Glen Ella, Neil Craig and, most recently, Marc Dal Maso.