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.
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.
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.
“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
I hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
5 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
5 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
5 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
97 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
97 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
97 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
97 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
97 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
97 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
97 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
97 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
97 Go to comments