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Why Eddie Jones ‘felt’ for All Blacks coach Ian Foster
The Wallabies and All Blacks are modern-day gladiators, and the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the next instalment of their fiery rivalry on Saturday night.
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Australian coach Eddie Jones couldn’t have summed up the sporting relationship between the neighbouring nations any better, saying both rugby teams “have got good respect for each other.”
But they also “dislike each other” on the field.
The sporting rivalry between Australia and New Zealand is practically unrivalled in the southern hemisphere, and any contest is sure to create headlines.
Jones, who has beaten the All Blacks five times throughout his legendary coaching career, said the New Zealand “economy is going to suffer” if the visitors lose Bledisloe I on Saturday.
It’s about more than sport when Australia play New Zealand.
But once the full-time whistle sounds, and away from the watchful eyes of fans, media and others within the rugby community, the Wallabies and All Blacks are just like anyone else.
Coach Jones doesn’t “mind having a glass of red” with his All Blacks counterpart Ian Foster. There’s plenty of admiration and respect between the two teams.
Jones had been hyping up this weekend’s rugby war between the Wallabies and All Blacks for about 13 minutes when he was asked to open up on his relationship with Foster at a press conference on Thursday.
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New Zealand Rugby revealed Foster’s successor in the All Blacks’ hot seat earlier this year, with champion Crusaders coach Scott Robertson to take over as head coach from 2024.
Without a moment of hesitation, Jones spoke about why he “felt for” Foster ahead of “the ultimate Test” at the ‘G.’
“He had a board that reacted to media pressure (with the) appointment of a coaching job,” Jones told reporters. “He could go on and produce one of the greatest All Black teams and then his fate is already sealed.
“I think that’s why we’ve seen a different approach from New Zealand this year. Normally in a World Cup year, they’re very measured in their buildup, they want to peak at the World Cup, but I think because of the situation maybe they’ve taken a different approach.
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“I’ve never seen a New Zealand team come out in The Rugby Championship ready to go straight away. We’ve seen that in the first two games. Probably the first two 40 minutes has been some of the best rugby we’ve seen for a while.
“Maybe that’s got to do with the coaching appointment because I know the players value him greatly as a coach, and we all know he’s a good rugby man.
“They’re playing with a lot of passion and a lot of drive and a lot of direction. For us it’s the ultimate Test.”
The Wallabies take on the All Blacks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday evening in the first of two Bledisloe Cup Test matches.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
2 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
2 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
2 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
2 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
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