Eddie Jones prepares England to face '15 Donald Trumps' in USA World Cup clash
Eddie Jones is expecting the United States to provide a tough challenge for his England side in their World Cup meeting in Kobe on Thursday.
He illustrated that point uniquely, though, saying that the USA will play like “15 Donald Trumps” when the two teams clash at NOEVIR Stadium.
It will be the first time the tier two minnows have played at this tournament in Japan, but Jones guarded against complacency in bizarre fashion.
“It’s going to be like 15 Donald Trumps out there, so we’ll have to be on our job, because we know they’re going to give it everything they’ve got, just like Tonga did. That’s great for us because we’ll have to be at our best,” he said.
Asked to expand on his comparison to the American president, Jones said: “Brash, aggressive, want to take on the world – that’s what we think the USA will do.”
USA Eagles head coach Gary Gold didn’t react to Jones’ comments, citing that his team – the world’s 13th-ranked side who have won just three of their 25 World Cup matches since 1987 – didn’t have the right to engage in a war of words with one of rugby’s powerhouse nations.
Continue reading below…
“At this stage, with all due respect, we’re not a good enough rugby team to be making comments or answers to questions like that,” Gold, a South African, said of Jones’ comments.
“I don’t know what it means.”
It isn’t the first time at this World Cup that Jones has sparked intrigue with his unconventional way of portraying his thoughts and opinions.
Just a day before his Trump comparison, a Japanese reporter asked the 59-year-old to explain his reference to young loose forward duo Sam Underhill and Tom Curry being “kamikaze kids”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2uED0DId1F/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Australian-born Jones, who coached Japan at the last World Cup and has Japanese heritage through his mother, said he used the reference because of Underhill’s and Curry’s tenacious defensive abilities.
The term ‘kamikaze’ is sensitive in Japan due to its reference to airplane pilots who flew suicide missions during World War II.
Despite the enthusiasm conveyed in Jones’ words early in the tournament, his England side didn’t replicate that in their first outing of the World Cup, earning a patchy 35-3 victory over Tonga in Sapporo on Sunday.
An Irish rugby writer has called for a stop to the All Blacks haka, saying it "gives New Zealand an unfair advantage".https://t.co/TgoPyyU8LM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 24, 2019
Subsequently, 10 changes have been made to the starting lineup for their clash against the Eagles in what will be their second match in just four days.
One player who has managed to retain his place in the team is barnstorming No. 8 Billy Vunipola.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2tezgpIV-l/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Concerns have been raised about the durability of the 26-year-old given that he has played 761 of England’s last 800 minutes, but after a physical display against Tonga three days ago, Jones has no qualms about his fitness.
“That’s a massive occasion for him, to play against his own countrymen,” Jones said of Vunipola’s effort against Tonga.
“They were gunning for him, they were looking for him.
“I really enjoyed the way he played that game. At the end of the game when we needed somebody to take the ball forward he called himself, and that’s the sort of player he is. That’s why we love him.”
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments