Secret strategy: Eddie Jones reveals the trick that took down the All Blacks at 2019 World Cup
Eddie Jones has revealed the media warfare strategy he unleashed in an effort to destabilise the All Blacks before the 2019 Rugby World Cup semifinal.
England demolished the All Blacks in Japan at the end of a week in which he claimed the All Blacks may have spied on his training sessions. He also labelled the New Zealand media as “fans with keyboards”, trying to coerce them into grilling the All Black coaches harder.
Jones said that the world’s best teams are so close physically and tactically that mental preparation is often the factor which decides the winning and losing of games.
“We wanted to try to put pressure on the New Zealand media, stir things up a bit, put some pressure on Steve Hansen during the week,” he said in an interview with Newstalk ZB‘s Martin Devlin.
Former Aussie and Japan boss Jones indicated managing the media message had become an even bigger part of his strategy since taking over at England.
Jones produced a telltale giggle when asked if he was ever going to reveal who the spy might have been. At the time, he said England’s security had spotted someone with a long lens in an apartment.
“If you allow the media to run the race they will run the race,” Jones had told Devlin earlier.
“You’ve got to try and exert some control and get the messages you want out there. I want the players to hear messages that aid their performances.
“We know that everything we say (publicly) as coaches the players do listen to, or someone in their family listens to it.
“You’ve got to continually reinforce with your team that the only noise which is important is the noise in the room.”
Jones described the All Blacks quarter-final win over Ireland as containing “some of the best rugby we’ve seen – they were absolutely brilliant”.
“I watched that game again six weeks ago – they played some superb rugby,” he said.
TRANSFER: The England star appears to be staying. https://t.co/BzVduXllRE
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 14, 2020
“(But) they had to get up again for us and England are seen as a team which always underperforms. The pressure was on New Zealand, there was less pressure on us.
“I couldn’t get it right for the South Africa game (England were thrashed in the final) – get them back up. You’re trying to manage the rhetoric.
“The more players hear (something) the more they believe it. It is the coach’s job to try and change that – it’s bloody hard.
“I needed to paint a stronger picture in the head of our players about how difficult the game was. But there’s always the risk of being too negative. It’s a fine line.”
RUGBY CHANGES
Jones said rugby had “sauntered” along in the professional era and needed changes to be sustainable.
In terms of rules, tacklers had been allowed too much latitude, slowing the game down.
“We’ve gone too far down the line of allowing contests to take over – we’ve gone away from being hard on the tackler rolling away,” he said.
RETURN TO TOURS
There is a thirst for mini tours, of three tests and midweek games, Jones said, although the classic 10 or 12-week tour was a thing of the past.
“Three or four-week tours would be great for rugby – it’s a soap opera with the same characters in different situations.”
THE NEW WALLABY COACH
Australia had made a smart move, employing a Kiwi as coach. He said Dave Rennie was a “hard, uncompromising but caring guy”.
“They’ve got good players – he’ll get the right balance in the Australian side,” he said.
LOCKDOWN
He was impressed at how young players had proved doubters wrong in maintaining their fitness levels.
“The lockdown has taught me how much I love rugby and coaching,” he said.
“There are going to be economic changes, that’s a worldwide thing in every area of life.
“There will be smaller (rugby) squads and staff, movement of players for a period of time will be less.”
JOHN MITCHELL
His assistant Mitchell, the former All Black coach, was a changed man.
“He used to be a banging on the table type of coach, now he is much more caring, questioning and consultative type of coach.”
ADVANTAGE IAN FOSTER
With a new head coach in Ian Foster, the All Blacks could not regard their next meeting with England as a chance for World Cup revenge.
“With Foz in charge, there is no pressure on him. They can throw the ball from side to side, it will be a great game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
30 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments