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Eddie Jones - The mind games used to gain an edge
By New Zealand Herald
England rugby coach Eddie Jones has revealed the mind games he plays with his players, opponents and the media.
In a revealing interview as part of The Times’ podcast series, the well-travelled Australian says his bag of tricks also includes not turning up to team meetings.
And he even kissed an opponent once during his club playing days.
The 59-year-old also admits to deliberately waking up “worried” every day to retain his competitive drive.
Jones told interviewer Matt Dickinson: “I have set up team meetings and not turned up, set up training sessions and not turned up.
“[Allow] your players and staff to fail because that’s the way they learn the most.
“Because the players lead such controlled lives, particularly in any professional sports, they have probably gone from a sports high school, everything laid out for them, an academy, then a professional team, so they have a small range of experience and you have to create different experiences.”
Jones said he learnt the art of manipulation, including sledging, as a small hooker playing in Sydney club rugby.
“I was a little bloke … you had to find some advantage,” Jones said.
“Even today there are still massive advantages in saying the right thing at the right time.
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“I always remember going back [for Southern Districts] and playing my old club Randwick,” Jones said.
“The tighthead prop was an old mate of mine and I had to find some way of upsetting him because we couldn’t handle him.
“So the first scrum, I kissed him on the cheek. He had no idea what to do, didn’t know how to react.
“I was trying to put some thought into how we could win that game … it worked. I wouldn’t kiss him again though.”
Jones largely isolates himself from traditional and social media noise, but is very aware of its effect on players.
This includes regarding press conferences as vital tools, although he admitted getting off message sometimes in the heat of the moment.
He cited English Premier League football managers Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) and Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) as influences in how to use the media.
“When City played Liverpool … Klopp said look, there were two good teams and they were a little bit better than us,” recalled Jones.
“It was just a nice approach to it, still giving his team plenty of confidence.
“The players listen to what you say at a press conference. You can influence their mood going forward.
“Klopp and Pep in particular are quite good at that, keeping a very positive vibe on things.
“When you lose a game when you are touted as being good, it becomes the end of the world. You lose two and the whole solar system is going to fall in.
“To keep on track, to keep focus is so important.”
But he wasn’t impressed with the style of another leader – US President Donald Trump.
“I never look at Twitter … the only person I’m interested in there is Donald Trump,” he said.
“I find the whole thing fascinating from a leadership point of view.
“The biggest country in the world can have someone who appears to be so ill-disciplined in what he puts out. But I suppose he can get away with it.”
Coming Soon on RugbyPass – Ben Foden
This article first appeared in the New Zealand Herald and is republished wit permission
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
3 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
3 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments