Eddie Jones insists the shortage of contenders for the England captaincy beyond Dylan Hartley is a symptom of the leadership deficit that exists throughout sport.
Hartley is having to prove his fitness as he serves a six-week suspension for striking and will not have played since December 9 by the time France visit Twickenham for next month’s the RBS 6 Nations opener.
The Northampton hooker is expected to be confirmed as skipper for the Grand Slam defence next week, but is viewed by Jones as a “foundation captain” who is highly unlikely to remain at the helm by the time the next World Cup arrives in 2019.
Owen Farrell is favourite to eventually succeed Hartley but the alternatives outside the Saracens playmaker are few, a product of what Jones views as the lack of assertiveness that characterises the younger generation.
“Every team in the world faces this problem. New Zealand are going through it now after losing the likes of Richie McCaw and Dan Carter,” Jones said.
“They would rock up to training and do the right thing. Those that aren’t doing the right thing, they’d be told to do the right thing. Now they haven’t got those guys.
“Young people today don’t like doing that – they don’t like calling other people out, it’s not how people are educated now.
“It’s a reality of elite sport now and it’s in every sport. Dylan is very unusual in that respect. He’s a very unusual boy.
“They’re skills we have to teach the players and it’s a process. I don’t see it as being a major problem, but it’s an issue we need to deal with.
“You have to find ways of overcoming it because otherwise you end up with teams that can’t make decisions and we want to be a team – as we showed against Argentina last autumn – that can fix a problem on the field and not look to the grandstand.”
George Ford is a possible future England captain, but Jones has appeared to rule out Maro Itoje as an option, stating “I see him as an important player in the team, I’ll leave it at that”.
The Six Nations 34-man squad named on Friday morning offered no surprises, with Jones staying loyal to those who compiled a 13-Test winning sequence in 2016.
MH01
Guest
Simple mate. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials You see it everyday
R2D2
Guest
A bit like yourself.
Kane
Guest
True but it has been more than 12 years since he's done so and he is also the last Australian coach to lose the Bledisloe Cup. All kind of irrelevant isn't it?
Hello Everybody.
Guest
And hows it gone? Very well. So I think your using evidence that contradicts your point. It is true that many thought it would go poorly but theyve been proven wrong so far, so Eddie was right or wrong to pick Hartley? Right and trying to paint it otherwise is a bit difficult.
Hello Everybody.
Guest
That would be best. Ive seen enough to know thats a good thing tbh.
Glen
Guest
Happy he never mentioned the Boks, our captain Strauss is over it and has walked. We don't have a nucleus of senior players to choose from. All our potential leaders have walked. We only have kids to choose from.
Bakkies
Guest
'That what Eddie said was right, so whats your point?' Is that how you converse on these forums? If so there is no point discussing anything with you.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes leadership in world sport in general is hardly his area of expertise. Needs a bit more convincing than knowing his own, albeit new, backyard and chucking in McCaws name to be taken seriously. I'm not sure about his comments around 'young people not educated that way anymore' and I don't think that applies to NZ rugby, which encourages individuals to thrive, have ago, get involved. I think if anything they need less guidance and leadership than say Eddies playing days, because the culture of a side provides for it, and the expectations of a professional in today's game require a much higher level of self discipline and personal application. I'd like to know more of Eddies views on that though because he's quite specific in that regard, and I don't think it's a common view.
Hello Everybody.
Guest
I dont think thats why he gets more merit Bakkies. I think its because hes coaching a team doing so well now because Deans won against NZ more than once. Do people hang off every word he says about NZ? The reason people listen to what Eddie says is because Eng are the biggest union, hes been very successful with both Japan and Eng and because hes been there and done that.
Hello Everybody.
Guest
Bakkies, thats my point. That what Eddie said was right, so whats your point?
Hello Everybody.
Guest
Or maybe some will trying to step up. Im pretty sure he knows what hes doing more than a few that speculate on the Roar from a distance.
Lara
Guest
Maybe it is an English thing , but Eddie the mouth just made it a World sport problem. Best to work out your issues in private Eddie..... some English players will be giving Eddie the death stare behind his back.
Jacko
Guest
Apparently the English coaching staff dont have a decent leader either. How long does a player respond well to being told he aint no leader
Jacko
Guest
How would Eddie Jones know about the leadership group in the ABs? Did he put a bug somewhere?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Not so sure about Cane either. The game is more suited to the McCaw, Pocock type roles at the breakdown with the Saveas coming on when the pace slows down. Provided the ABs can retain a Read and Kaino type of back row combination Cane works and as at years end Savea was no closer to starting ahead of a Cane than at any other time. Saveas bulked up a bit so if he widens the range of his game he might put in a challenge but short term and certainly as start against the Lions Canes the man.
The V Man
Guest
Couldn't have said it better myself....
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah perhaps though they didn't sit on the bench for a few years due to inconsistency as a starter and lack of confidence. Kirk? Geez, that's some comparison. Kirk was born a leader. Med degree, Rhodes scholar, CEO and Chairman of many international companies, in NZ, Aus and Europe the man now virtually preaches leadership as a living. It's something he does better than being an All Black, and he was a very good All Black. Barrett is no Kirk in that respect.
Brizvegas
Guest
Not sure Eddie I mean you chose Hartley.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah agree, he does look good though, but he's yet to have things go south now and then to really see what he's made of. He's had a dream ride in 2016 and hasn't played a losing test yet. Many more challenges to come as a player to talk about leadership.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes, like everyone else he has an opinion, Read is a fine leader, and will be there for three years normal transmission permitting, and that is plenty of time to hone in two or three promising leaders. At the moment establishing leadership in the midfield is more important, as the Smith Nonu area hasn't been covered off yet, so Jones would have been more accurate to point that out in terms of AB leadership, if he must for some odd reason include them in this subject. Englands position is completely different, where they are struggling with it right now, NZ didn't have to suddenly appoint a high risk, constant play the man offender as skip. Mentioning NZ in the same boat was a bit short sighted...in my opinion. Perhaps it's playing on his mind a little too much. We're all good thanks Ed?