Eddie Jones likened to NRL coaching great
Wallabies assistant coach Jason Ryles says his new boss Eddie Jones shares similar coaching philosophies to Craig Bellamy, who he played and worked under at the Melbourne Storm.
Ryles flew out of Sydney on Sunday to link up with the Wallabies in Paris ahead of the Rugby World Cup, which gets underway in France on September 8.
He got a call-up last week after the shock resignation of Brad Davis, although Ryles won’t be taking over as attack coach, instead helping implement the systems already put in place by Jones and ex-Wallabies attack guru Scott Wisemantel.
Ryles was previously employed by Jones in 2020 and worked during England’s Autumn series but cut short his contract after six months due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
The 44-year-old felt it would be a smooth transition, given his history with Jones, who invited him to the final of the 2019 World Cup in Japan, when England fell to South Africa.
“It’s not foreign to me that’s for sure – Eddie has a way of doing things and has his beliefs and it’s been pretty successful for a long time,” Ryles told AAP.
“I’m excited to get over there and be behind the scenes again.”
After playing more than 200 games in the NRL including two seasons with the Storm in 2012-13, Ryles’s first foray into elite level coach came with Melbourne under Bellamy back in 2016.
He will re-join the Storm post World Cup, knocking back the St George Illawarra head coach role to again work under the Melbourne mentor.
Both Bellamy and Jones have a reputation as a fire-brand – with journalists in the Wallabies firing line last week – but Ryles said they had other qualities in common.
“They have different personalities but their work ethic and their insistence on doing the little things really well is similar,” he said.
“They work hard but their players work just as hard, which is something that they have in common.
“It’s their intensity at training – is probably the best way to describe it – they’re both strong believers in that.”
There are two former Storm wingers in the Wallabies World Cup squad in Marika Koroibete and Suliasi Vunivalu who Ryles knew, while there’s another ex-NRL player in their ranks in defence coach Brett Hodgson.
“I played State of Origin with Hodgo (Hodgson) and then played against him often, and have had a bit to with him since we’ve been coaching so I’m really familiar with him,” he said.
Arriving in France on Friday, a group of Wallabies players made a visit to the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux and laid a jersey for former Test playmaker William Tasker, who lost his life in France during World War I.
Vice-captain Tate McDermott said it was a “special day” before they started preparations for their warm-up game against France next Sunday (Monday AEST).
“Just being at this place, the memorial, it puts a bit of perspective back around just how lucky we are to be here and do what we’re doi ng at the moment,” McDermott said.
“The biggest thing is an understanding of who we represent … we’re over here doing what we love but these guys were fighting for our freedom of everyone back home so we’re reaping the rewards of what they did.
“It’s emotional being somewhere so special to Australians all around the world.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments