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Eddie Jones Was Robbed at the World Rugby Awards
He masterminded one of the greatest rugby revivals of recent years. So why didn’t Eddie Jones win coach of the year? Hayden Donnell complains bitterly.
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Steve Hansen just won coach of the year at the World Rugby Awards. In 2016, the All Blacks coach set a record for consecutive wins in the modern era, retained the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship, coaxed young talents like Ardie Savea and Anton Lienert-Brown to stardom, and somehow did it all despite exhibiting the emotional range of a plank of wood.
His win was sweet vengeance for last year’s travesty, where he lost to Michael Cheika. It was also completely unjustified and 100% wrong.
Eddie Jones should have won. When the England coach took over last November, he inherited one of the the most miserable bunch of sadsacks in history. His side had just been bundled out in the pool stage of a home World Cup, after being beaten by not one but two of their colonies. Turning that bunch of losers into the clear second-best squad in the world should go down as a rugby miracle for the ages.
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Hansen had a much easier job. The All Blacks lost McCaw and Carter at the end of the World Cup. But both were already hollowed out husks of their younger selves; ligaments stitched together with glue and sticky tape. Carter was replaced by the newly crowned World Player of the Year; McCaw by a mixture of the very good Sam Cane, and the incredibly good Savea.
In just about every position, the All Blacks had a bevy of players ready to step up to the international game. Liam Squire. Ryan Crotty. Even Israel Dagg rose out of his Red Bull and sleeping pill-induced haze to produce one of his best years. Just about all Hansen’s reserves would walk into the starting line-ups of any other international side, as evidenced by the astounding play of TJ Perenara after Aaron Smith was ruled out with a bad case of toilet boning.
Jones had to do more with less. Chris Robshaw, who had the gaunt and haunted look of someone who’d long stopped believing in hope, was transformed into a world-beating number 6. Dylan Hartley, who used to turn up half-cut to Monday morning training and still looks like an extra on Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, somehow became an inspiring captain.
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To add to the degree of difficulty, he had to deal with half his best players being injured. Thanks to the Northern Hemisphere’s 14,327-game season, England has been without Hartley, Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi, James Haskell, Sam Jones, Anthony Watson, and Maro Itoje at various points this year. Somehow they still got 10 wins from 10 games. That’s a better record for 2016 than Hansen’s, according to an in-depth mathematical analysis from the Rugby Pass data team. Jones executed one of the quickest rebuilds in history.
So why didn’t he win? Because he looks like an evil gremlin? Because his personality is notoriously abrasive and near-certain to get him fired one day? Whatever the reason, it’s not good enough. Jones masterminded one of the great rugby revivals. Gremlin or not, he should have something shiny to show for it.
Comments on RugbyPass
Quite 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.
10 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.
1 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
10 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.
10 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
10 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.
10 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
10 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.
10 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
10 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.
10 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 commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to comments