'No one likes England' - but Eddie Jones' team hate everyone else so much more
Eddie Jones peered over the top of his glasses. He was perched beside John Mitchell, 20 or so rows up in the Yokohama Stadium, the scene of their greatest triumph just 24 hours earlier.
Neither seemed to want to talk to each other. Mitchell, the New Zealander, was leaning forward in his seat, his ice-cold blue eyes leering into a Japanese Sunday night, seeking out the future. Jones had his view cast downwards, a pen and paper in his hand. He was up to something. He always is.
The day before had been just another heist for Jones. A man so good at taking something that seemingly belongs to others. This is why you can’t quite warm to him, why he creates such antipathy in people. He has the demeanour of someone two or three thoughts further along than you. The look of someone who has already worked out an angle, just in case he needs it. A man who trusts few, sleeps little and rarely says anything by accident.
But it had been his most impressive heist. One that left a normally eloquent Steve Hansen a little short of the right words. Like an angry police chief, on whose watch this all had happened, he turned on the press, asking them outside for questioning New Zealand’s efforts.
England have concerns over key personnel in Owen Farrell, Jonny May, Anthony Watson and prop Kyle Sinckler.https://t.co/mLk83zOcnO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 27, 2019
Another jewel to add to the booty; Jones’ larceny had brought out a frustrated, physical response from someone normally so unflappable. Jones countered in his own conference that England had just beaten ‘the God of rugby’. You had to smile. This was a comment coated in respect but one whose soft, juicy centre nodded towards his own accomplishment: “This was the world’s biggest and best bank,” he seemed to say. “…and people said I couldn’t get in.”
Kieran Read blinked post-match like a security guard unable to relay any facts about who had entered the premises. “It all happened so fast,” I expected him to mutter before looking towards the floor in disbelief. Not that New Zealand had been caught unawares you understand, it’s just when something that well planned, that well executed happens, the only natural response is one of uncertainty. Anything else and you almost seem complicit.
England had been certain. The opening ninety-eight seconds had come right off of Eddie’s whiteboard, the pen squeaking painfully as Jones’ hand drew arrow after vicious arrow: Daly around the outside; Watson stepping; all the way out to the other wing, Jamie George loitering with intent; quick hands into the midfield, get everyone involved; bash, bash, Tuilagi from close range.
England had gone in fast, through the front gate; the most unexpected of entrances are often through the most obvious door. A minute and a half of rugby football that sang deep into English hearts. ‘We don’t care who the f*** you are!’ came England’s apparent song.
Moments earlier the crowd had watched them ‘flick the v’ at the most famous of rugby salvos. Farrell, a captain so perfectly cast in his role of gang leader, positioned atop the arrowhead, couldn’t help a derisory smirk toward the All Blacks’ Haka. This is a side who have taken Jones’ disdain for everyone to their hearts. ‘No one likes England,’ the Tasmanian had proffered earlier in the week. But here’s the kicker: this England team hate everyone else so much more.
Each and every player knew their role. We were watching an omniscient operation. As New Zealand tried to find their voice, Jones’ men responded by putting a hand over each mouth. As the game wore on, those watching grew a nagging realisation: the last few years had been all about this. A year previous at Twickenham, England had led us halfway down the path, turning back short to perhaps save a little in reserve. New Zealand had overcome the fast start that day. Lawes’ offside infringement as Underhill snuck forth robbing them of a famous victory. There would be no such overstepping in Yokohama.
Jones’ wickedness was known best amongst his own men, he’d had them sat out of training for any offside during the week. It led to a near faultless undertaking. To undo the All Blacks, everyone’s rugby hero, the villainy has to be virtuoso.
Three of @EnglandRugby's young forwards will be terrorising teams for years to come – and they might already be the best in the world. https://t.co/iclFyxk19w #RWC2019 #ENGvsNZL
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 27, 2019
There is a point, of course, where a villain becomes so good at being bad, that we actually start to love them. And it is difficult to dent the affection now held for Eddie. His terrifying reign has bred a confident and all-encompassing approach in which it is difficult to see any flaws. The Sunday newspapers poured forth. Not that Jones will read the accolades. Why would you when you know what they say?
But now to the final: South Africa represent the perfect mark. How challenging to pickpocket someone who knows you’re a thief. Four years ago in Brighton, Jones’ oversaw an outrageous swindle. And yet, as pen met pad, high up in the stadium, as the South Africans wrestled their way clear of Wales, a plan was afoot. He will have to beat the ‘Boks in a different fashion. But there is no one better placed to pull it off.
Jones’ infamy has made this one of the best rugby crime stories ever told. And amongst it all, he has stolen our hearts as well.
Watch: Fans react after England beat New Zealand
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments