Eddie Jones has expanded on his dream of restoring pride in Australian rugby by winning the 2023 World Cup and “chasing” the All Blacks down the street in a combative manner he is adamant can help reinvigorate the code.
In an entertaining and wide-ranging 40-minute press conference on Tuesday at Matraville Sports High, where he met the Ella brothers, Jones promised to help the Wallabies become a world force.
Jones has given several interviews since being appointed Wallabies coach, but his top-table press conference, alongside RA chairman Hamish McLennan and chief executive Andy Marinos, effectively put a stake in the ground to mark the start of the 63-year-old’s tenure.
Three weeks ago, Dave Rennie was putting the final touches to his plans for the World Cup, starting in September. Now, Rennie is ancient history, as Jones implored Australian rugby fans to get on board and do their bit.
“We’ve been through a tough period. We want pride back,” Jones said. “That’s the most important thing.
“I reckon we’ve got to draw a line in the sand of where we’ve been and work out where we want to go and have that picture in our head. Then everyone needs to roll our sleeves up. If you’re cooking sausages down at the Willoughby under-8s, or you’re thinking about getting a Stan subscription, do it. We need people to want to support rugby.
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan, Eddie Jones and Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos.Credit:Getty
“Australia ended up winning the World Cup in 1991 and then in 1999 we won the World Cup. We want to start that period again. We’re not short of talented players here, but talent doesn’t win World Cups. What wins World Cups and wins the hearts of people, is teams who play with that same spirit the Ellas had. [It’s about] being aggressive, playing with a certain panache.
“Where can we take the team? If we play like that, people will want to watch rugby again.”
If talking a big game was a sport, Jones would be an Olympic gold medallist. He has made no secret of his desire to win this year’s World Cup, despite having just seven months to prepare.
Marinos was asked his expectations for the Wallabies, who are ranked sixth in the world, in France. He wants them to go all the way.
“He’s made it pretty clear he’s there to win, and that’s why we brought him back,” Marinos said. “The expectation is to win the World Cup.”
In comments sure to find their way rapidly across the Tasman, Jones said the Wallabies would target the All Blacks in an effort to win back the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since he was in charge in 2002. New Zealand have lost two World Cup semi-finals to Jones-coached teams.
“I think they’re in a pretty good spot, but we’re coming after them,” Jones said. “We’re going to be chasing them down the street and that’s a good thing.
“We want that rivalry to be tough and I think New Zealand want it as well, so we’ll make sure we’re chasing them. I remember 2001 in Dunedin when we won it. The party we had afterwards was fantastic.
Eddie Jones coached the Wallabies to their last win in New Zealand in 2001.Credit:Dallas Kilponen
“Steve Larkham is one of our Super Rugby coaches now. He was brilliant on that day, the way he manipulated the space against the Kiwis.
“That’s a big target for us because we as Australians, we can take New Zealand and we’re in a good position to take the World Cup, so we’ll certainly be prioritising that.
“But again [the Bledisloe Cup] won’t be the be-all-and-end all because the World Cup is a major tournament.
“We know that the last time the Australians played [a Bledisloe match in Australia] the referee made a difficult decision at the end of the game and he’s still recovering from it.
“If we can get the lead in the series then go to Dunedin … what a fabulous place to win back the Bledisloe Cup. That’s the picture in my head.”
Eddie in his own words
On what the next few months looks like:
“There’s three big things. One; the staff. Two; the players. Three; the way we play. I used to have plans after plans – I used to have paper everywhere – and one of the things age teaches you is have an idea in your head but don’t get too set to a plan. I’ll be out on Saturday at Griffith [for the Waratahs and Brumbies trial match]. Saturday week I’ll be at Narrabri, so I aim to get out to those Super Rugby teams and meet the coaching staff. Everyone’s in this together, they’ve got a huge role to play as well. Then I’ll speak to the players as we go around and then we’ll get our staff worked out again. I can’t get our staff worked out until I know what the players need. By the first game in Pretoria, we’ll be ready to go.”
On losing two World Cup finals and whether that motives him:
“I lost those silver medals somewhere, mate. I think they’re in the Indian Ocean. The last time I moved countries was from South Africa back to England. I had about five boxes that included a gold medal and two silver medals. I never got them back. So they’re probably in some bazaar in Cape Town being sold. I’ve forgotten about them. The only thing that matters now is what we do together on each day and how we can get better.”
On what the biggest misconception about him:
“I don’t think it really matters what people paint of you because the only thing that matters is my relationship with the players. I’m sure they don’t read the garbage that’s written by these blokes. If they do, they’re not smart enough to play for the Wallabies. They’ll be reading your columns and saying this and this, but what we’ll be worried about is developing good relationships with the players and making sure the environment gives them what they need. It’s what the players need. As coaches, we’re just servants to the players.”
On the potential satisfaction of beating England:
“England is a chapter which I enjoyed, loved it, but it’s closed. Now we’re moving on to the next game, which will be against South Africa in Pretoria.”
On what legacy he wants to leave:
”If we win the World Cup, it changes things for rugby in Australia. If you look at world rugby at the moment, there are six teams separated by a cigarette paper. They’re so tight. The team that learns the most over the next nine months will be the team that lifts the William Webb Ellis trophy in Stade de France on the 28th of October at about 11pm. We’re intending that to be us. Then from that, kids will want to play rugby. We need to create role models.”
On his intensity:
“You’ve got to just find the right spot for those players. Every player thinks they’re playing at 100 per cent but what we know is that the human being has so much more in them. What we’re trying to find is that discretionary five to 10 per cent where the ball goes over your head and you make a decision on whether you run hard or you don’t run hard. I don’t know how I’m going to have to coach the Wallabies – whether I’m going to have to be harder, to be supportive or I’m going have to challenge. What I do know is that our players don’t lack talent. They don’t lack talent. If you did a World XV today on talent, you’d have a fair few Australian players in there.”
On rugby’s role in reconciliation:
”I remember going to kindergarten with the three Ellas. There was no difference between anyone. We were all the same kids. We played cricket, rugby, rugby league and there was nothing between us. I came back and taught here, taught mathematics very badly. It was a different feeling. There was some antagonism between people and now I think one of the things that has really impressed me in Australian rugby is their endeavour to reconcile. We still need to do more for Aboriginal kids and getting them playing rugby. They have done well in other sports and we want more playing. We have seen what the Ellas have done for their people and we want to do more and I want to be part of it.“
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