'I often joke Eddie would have a game plan for Kazakhstan if they were playing tomorrow'
George Gregan is backing his former Australia coach Eddie Jones to be the character to keep a watch on at the 2019 World Cup.
The pair worked together at the 2003 finals, Jones guiding a Wallabies side that featured Gregan at scrum-half to a final they lost to England in extra-time.
Sixteen years later, Jones is preparing England for the finals in Japan and Gregan believes his former coach will have everything ready despite his side’s poor finish to the Six Nations where they were threw away leads and were beaten by Wales and drew with Scotland.
“I have been watching Eddie Jones and his English squad with a close eye, particularly in the Six Nations and over the last few years,” said Gregan, speaking as a Land Rover ambassador.
“He came to Australia and beat the Wallabies at home in 2016, which is an outstanding effort at the end of a long season. And they have really impressed me in the last 12 to 15 months in their ability to score a lot of points, so the attacking part of their squad has really improved is is led really well by (Owen) Farrell and (Billy Vunipola). When they’re fit they are the big leaders within the English squad.
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“Everyone understands what they are doing. They have adapted their game, they scored a lot of points against South Africa in South Africa. There is always stuff to work on and Eddie Jones will be working on it and that’s closing out games, finishing it off, being in a position to put teams away.
“They should have beaten the All Blacks last year and I thought they showed some outstanding form. What he will be working on is just fine turning those areas, making those adjustments, encouraging his leaders to step-up and take the reins of his team.
“He really does encourage his leaders to drive the team, and he will have tricks up his sleeve. He’s the sort of guy who would have been planning for this World Cup. Like a lot of coaches he will have game plans, he will have strategies, he will be working on some subtle changes which no one has seen.
“Those are the things you add to a World Cup squad which give you confidence and he is definitely one of those meticulous planners. He’s always thinking ahead, has a good grasp of whoever he is playing, I often joke he would have a game plan for Kazakhstan if they were playing tomorrow.
“Eddie Jones’ comments about the English team requiring an increase in their mental strength, particularly after the hangover of 2015, is really, really important and sage advice. The only way you get better at that is by putting yourselves in those positions and learning from those mistakes you made previously.
“A good example was Scotland just recently. They were up 31 points to nil and then they had to score right at the death to make it a 38-38 draw. You wouldn’t have picked them to be in a position where they are having to score in the last play of the game to draw the match.
A great day of Grassroots Rugby in Sapporo Japan with ??@g_leitch? @LandRoverAus? ?@LandRoverJPN? @LandRoverRugby??@rugbyworldcup? pic.twitter.com/Y3NtoElHcs
— George Gregan (@GeorgeGregan) April 9, 2019
“They are the lessons you learn. Why did it occur? What do we need to do to fix it? As I said earlier, they have started some Test matches really well, they have had really good first halves against the Springboks in South Africa and then they lost those Test matches by a narrow margin.
“There’s something that needs to be changed and fixed, and they will be working on that. A lot of that is driven by the playing group. A lot of it has to be through being pretty honest with each other as well and talk about it, then take steps in the right direction and look forward to putting yourself under pressure because that’s professional sport.”
Gregan was Australia’s captain in 2003 and he believes Farrell would be Jones’ best pick for this role in Japan now that Dylan Hartley has fallen by the wayside with injury. “Owen Farrell and the captaincy and being under pressure all goes hand-in-hand. He responds really well. He is a wonderful player. You saw what he did on the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand a couple of years ago – I thought he was outstanding and a big part of why that was a drawn series.
“He will respond and thrive. I always think it is a bit dangerous putting a player such as him in cotton wool because they want match play, they want to be stretched, they want to be put under a bit of pressure.
“If they don’t have any major injuries, or not managing an injury, then there is nothing better than the confidence of playing inside the arena and getting that match hardness, and just getting those reps under your belt, particularly when it comes to decision making.
“He is a real key player in that team for that reason and the best way to lead your team is by playing. You go back to 2003. England. Before they won they came to Australia and had their best players. They were hardened and prepared for all conditions, so there is a lot to be gained by playing.”
WATCH: Part one of Operation Jaypan, the RugbyPass documentary that tours Japan ahead of the 2019 finals
Comments on RugbyPass
Irish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
4 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
4 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to comments