Jones hails spirit of World Cup winners
Eddie Jones heaped praise on the trio of World Cup winners who shook off a week of celebrations across South Africa to represent the Barbarians against Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday.
Although the invitational club eventually went down 33-31 to John Mckee’s Pacific Islanders, 10 tries were shared evenly.
John Dyer, who scored two excellent tries, and centre Seru Vularika starred for Fiji. Fly-half Teti Tela kicked four conversions and dotted down for a 13-point haul.
Deprived of Europe-based players, Mckee relied on a contingent from Fijian Drua, a developmental outfit who compete in Australia’s
National Rugby Championship. Tendai Mtawarira, Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am joined up with the Barbarians after playing influential roles in the Springboks’ 32-12 win over England.
Jones, head coach for the fixture against Fiji, revealed that all three looked “pretty doughy” following their uplifting trophy tour around South Africa. However, each of them was named in the Barbarians’ match-day 23. Mapimpi started on the left wing and scored two tries.
“You saw three blokes who played in a World Cup final and they have been on a bus for two weeks having a great time,” Jones said. “They come out here and play with a lot of spirit, a lot of heart. Mapimpi’s work-rate off the ball was exceptional. It just shows what a great institution the Barbarians is because it does engender those values of rugby that we all started the game for. We can’t let them go.”
The Barbarians face Brazil in Sao Paulo on Wednesday. England defence coach John Mitchell will take charge as Jones is unavailable.