Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says the English Premiership will pose one of the biggest challenges of his illustrious career.
The domestic rugby season kicks-off this weekend and Jones will get his first taste of life with his new club Saracens against Harlequins on Saturday.
Jones arrives at Vicarage Road with an enviable CV after leading Australia to the 2003 World Cup final, then guiding South Africa towards World Cup victory last year in the support role of technical adviser.
The 48-year-old also masterminded the ACT Brumbies’ first Super 12 title in 2001, but Jones’ managerial skills and coaching expertise now face another significant examination.
Saracens haven’t won a major trophy since 1998 so Jones, who succeeds fellow Australian Alan Gaffney, faces a massive task to transform the perennial under-achievers.
Jones may find the gruelling demands of a Premiership campaign which won’t end until May 16 if Saracens reach their first grand final, the most demanding part of his rugby director role.
“I’ve never done a season of this length before in my coaching career, so it is a lot different,” Jones said.
“We have spent a lot of time planning in terms of breaking the season up into particular stages, so I am pretty confident we’ve planned well.
“What we have also got to do is monitor the work-rate, keep the players fresh and keep them enthusiastic.
“Saracens are an interesting club. They have moved around a fair bit and haven’t won too many trophies, but what we are trying to do is put together a club that is sustainably successful.
“I don’t know how clubs judge their season in England – I am still getting to grips with it – but you obviously get a deflated feeling when you don’t finish in the top six for Heineken Cup qualification the following season.”
The first weekend of the season sees the so-called ELVs (Experimental Law Variations) come into play amidst much debate in the UK.
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