Video: 'We don't play like the Springboks' - Jones talks about how to beat All Blacks
England head coach Eddie Jones spoke to RugbyPass from their training base as his side begins preparations to face New Zealand on Saturday. Reflecting on the nailbiting one point win against South Africa, Jones had some bad news regarding Sale flanker Tom Curry who limped off injured against the Boks.
Jones said, “It’s highly unlikely he’ll be available for the rest of the tournament. We’ve got Underhill or Wilson who can come in at 7 so we’re pretty well resourced in that area.”
Having been withdrawn late in the week, Jones was also able to give an update on Manu Tuilagi and the state of Courtney Lawes, adding, “Manu and Courtney are both progressing well, we’re hopeful that they’ll be full training on Tuesday.”
With Chris Ashton having earned his first cap for four years on Saturday, Jones spoke warmly about one of his men who beat New Zealand in 2012. Jones said, “Chris is determined to play for England. He sacrificed a lot in terms of his contract at Toulon so we’re pleased to have him back in the squad. He’s a good character, he’s good to be
around the squad. What I’ve really enjoyed about the squad, there’s a great deal of togetherness. We’ve got some new guys in the squad, some different characters and it’s a nice blend of players.”
Jones started Owen Farrell at fly-half for just the third time under his stewardship but when it came to describing how the 10-12-13 axis performed against the Springboks, Jones was less complimentary, “Very rusty, as you’d expect with three training runs. Certainly, we always knew that Owen could play 10 well. We know also that George and Owen could play together well at 10 and 12 so we’ve got two really good options in that area.”
New Zealand have only lost two of their last 21 Tests, including to South Africa in the recent Rugby Championship. So does Jones think England should take some lessons from how victory was won?
Jones said, “We’re not the Springboks. We don’t play like the Springboks so it’s difficult to replicate things the Springboks did. But certainly they played with great aggression, great urgency, great effort and certainly those areas are areas we’re able to look at.”
Having now strung two wins together since five consecutive losses in 2018, Jones responded to whether England’s biggest challenge this week is convincing his players that victory against the world champions is a possibility.
Jones replied, “I think that’s part of preparing for any game. You’ve got to have the necessary belief within your squad that you’ve got the tactics right, you’ve got the fitness, you’ve got the chemistry of the team right. Once you’ve got that, then you’ve got an opportunity to put yourself in the position where you think about winning the game.”
Jones continued, “New Zealand’s an important game, don’t get me wrong. They’re the best team in the world and that’s exciting for us but in terms of preparation, the preparation’s about getting better and that’s the same for every Test match we play.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments