The 21-question 'beat the drum' Eddie Jones Aussie media unveiling
It’s incredible how quickly the rugby world can change. Just over nine weeks ago, new Australia boss Eddie Jones sounded deluded. His then-England side had just been thrashed at home by South Africa to round off a dismal 2022 with just five wins in 12 matches. Moving in the “right direction” and “not far away” were two of the most bizarre comments he said to a room of disbelieving journalists at his post-match media conference in London. No one believed him.
Fast forward 66 days to another room jammed with media, only this time they were enthusiastically hanging on to every word that Jones had to say. That’s what a new job in a very different location on the other side of the world can do – generate wholesale optimism.
The recently turned 63-year-old Jones lapped the situation on his return as Australia coach to Matraville Sports High, his old Sydney school from the 1970s, turning on his trademark showmanship charm across a 48-minute session that initially included an Aboriginal welcome from his old buddy Gary Ella.
There were then top-table platitudes from Jones’ new buddies, the Rugby Australia duo of Hamish McLennan and Andy Marinos who handed him a five-year deal on January 16 just 41 days after his English Rugby HQ sacking.
Then it was onto the meat and drink of the day, 31 minutes taken up with a wide variety of 21 questions from the floor in which the best Jones’ answer was theatrically left until last: Was he the Messiah who can fix everything that is wrong with rugby in Australia?
“I’m not the Messiah,” he retorted with a smile. “Everyone is in this together, we are all working in this together but sometimes you just need someone to beat the drum and that gets other people walking a bit faster and maybe that is the role at the moment, but as we go forward it is going to be about everyone working together.
“That parent who wants to take their kid to the rugby training but Netflix or whatever is on at the moment stays at home has got to make that decision to do a bit more, so we need everyone to do it mate including yourself, including the media, we need you guys to beat the drum.”
Before that crafty sign-off bringing an end to the proceedings which were broadcast live on YouTube and Facebook by the RA social media channels, there was plenty to chew over. The legacy Jones aspires to leave when finished his contract in 2027, his reputation as a hard taskmaster, his Rugby World Cup record and how he has lost his runners-up medals, the competition for the Wallabies’ No10 position, the rivalry Australia has with the All Blacks… and so on.
Into the conversation, Jones dropped names such as Roger Bannister, the four-minute miler, referee Mathieu Raynal and that infamous time-wasting decision last September in Melbourne, ex-Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri and a reference to the current Australia crop needing to each bring a mirror into camp, also an old yarn about the now-retired England back-rower James Haskell. There was also the name of the book Jones is currently reading, Reconnect by Doug Lemov, which is about teaching getting kids in America to move away from the isolation of constantly being on their screens.
The new Wallabies coach would love to see that happen in Australia but Jones knows that on-field success with Australia is needed given the current anti-rugby lie of the sporting landscape, a situation he had just experienced himself with the Matraville pupils before heading inside for his media unveiling.
“Our target is to win the World Cup,” he said with chutzpah in his very first answer. “If we win the World Cup, it changes things for rugby in Australia, so our target is to win the World Cup and then worry about what happens after. To win the World Cup, this talented group of players is going to have to work together to make a team that has a competitive edge over the rest of the world.
“If you look at world rugby at the moment, there are six teams not separated by a cigarette paper, they are so tight and the team that learns the most over the next nine months will be the team that lifts the William Webb Ellis trophy in Stade de France on October 28 at about 11pm and we are intending that to be us and then from that kids will want to play rugby.
“We went out to the year-seven kids there and most of them play soccer because they watch the Socceroos, they’re excited about what the Matildas are going to do in the Women’s World Cup and there was a small number of rugby. When we were at school here [his friends, the Ella brothers] it would have been the opposite. They were all rugby kids and a few kids that played soccer so we need to create role models and we need to create heroes for the young kids.”
Chat about the All Blacks was very much on his agenda. “We are going to be chasing them down that street and we want that rivalry to be tough.” Chat about England, however, wasn’t embraced. “I can’t give you any headline there, mate.”
It was all cabaret all the way through, just like it used to entertainingly be in the early years with Jones in England. Now it is quickly down to work, the Waratahs’ trial game on Saturday versus the Brumbies in Griffith his first stop in a year of endless possibilities with Australia. Given his disastrous end-game November with England, it sure was incredible listening to him and realising how very quickly the rugby world does change.
- Click here to watch the entire Eddie Jones introductory media briefing
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry 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.
1 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.
2 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 commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments