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Stephen Jones: 'My manic week answering SOS call'
Stephen Jones has reflected on a “manic” week that saw him answer Wales’ World Cup SOS following Rob Howley’s departure from Japan. The former Wales flyhalf has taken on attack coach duties, arriving last week after assistant coach Howley was sent home for an alleged breach of World Rugby’s betting regulations.
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Howley, 48, is back in Wales to assist with an investigation relating to a potential breach of World Rugby regulation six – specifically betting on rugby union. Jones had already been named as part of a new post-World Cup Wales coaching team under Wayne Pivac, but he is now an essential part of the campaign for global glory.
Asked if it had all been a whirlwind, Jones said: “Yes. You have pretty much hit the nail on the head there. It’s been manic if I am honest, but what a wonderful welcome I have had from the boys and the management. I have worked with a number of players and management before. The senior players were excellent – they took the helm and took the lead – which was great.”
Jones, who said he had not had a chance to catch up with Howley, was at home in Cardiff when he received the call, and he added: “It was a bit of a shock. When I got the call, it was a straightaway decision. I am very fortunate that I have a supportive wife as well! It was an instant decision. Obviously, there is a wonderful foundation in place. There are a lot of good things in the library already.
“Warren Gatland has been excellent and said I can evolve things slowly, but obviously I am conscious there is going to be limited grass time, but where I am fortunate is that there are so many good things in place. It’s a wonderful environment. You look at each department, how they function. Everybody knows their role, and they do it very well from a management perspective.”
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Wales have arrived in Tokyo from Toyota City where they beat Georgia 43-14 in their Pool D opener, with Australia looming in five days’ time. But Cory Hill’s hopes of playing any part in the tournament are over after he was released from Wales’ World Cup squad.
The Dragons lock was named in the group and travelled to Japan, but he has not been able to recover from a stress fracture of his fibula. Hill, who last played in February, will be replaced by 65 times-capped Ospreys forward Bradley Davies. Wales had hoped that Hill would be available to face Australia, but he has run out of time.
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Hill’s fellow lock Adam Beard, meanwhile, only arrived in Japan three days ago after having his appendix removed. Skipper Alun Wyn Jones and Jake Ball are set to continue as Wales’ second row partnership against Australia, with flanker Aaron Shingler providing lock cover on the bench.
Fresh off the bullet train to Tokyo, coach Stephen Jones was up for our #RWC2019 press conference ?? Gwrandwch ar Stephen yn sôn am faterion amrywiol rygbi Cymru. pic.twitter.com/NUymkd3wuk
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) September 24, 2019
Looking ahead to the Wallabies clash, Stephen Jones said: “It will be a massive occasion, and it’s one as players and coaches that you love – big sporting moments. We have some things to evolve quickly and improve, which is great.
“It’s about playing smart, recognising how the opposition set themselves up. From an attacking perspective, you have to have the ability to shape the opposition’s defence. It’s about being smart with the ball – you don’t want to waste your energy in certain areas of the park. When you get in the right areas, you need to convert your chances and be potent.
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“They have lots of talented players, but I look at it from our perspective, and our boys will be looking forward to that challenge of going up against those boys. We have got some wonderful players regarding skill-sets, athletic ability, work-rate off the ball. It’s exciting from our end.”
– Press Association
WATCH: Warren Gatland reflects on Wales’ victory over Georgia
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks 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?
11 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.
9 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.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 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.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
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