With it being two years since England’s early World Cup exit on home soil, and just under two years until Japan 2019 kicks off, Eddie Jones has officially entered (you guessed it) phase two of his reign as England coach.
This is a critical juncture for Jones, as the next 12 months will give him ample opportunity to assess which of his squad will be up for the challenge of the World Cup, and which will be shipped off to the rugby glue factory, also known as the Japanese Top League.
This will culminate in a mouth-watering match against the All Blacks on November 10 next year – the first time they will have clashed in four years and a true marker of their potential performance in 2019.
However, Jones’ men have quite a bit of rugby to play before then, beginning with their Twickenham Test against Argentina on November 11, and including a full slate of Autumn Internationals, the Six Nations and a tour of South Africa.
The Aviva Premiership is a much higher quality proposition than it was even a few years ago, and this season has promised to be a cracker, however at present it resembles M*A*S*H, with the likes of Billy Vunipola, Jack Nowell, Chris Robshaw and Tom Wood all spending time on the sidelines amidst an injury crisis across all clubs.
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Perhaps the best thing that could’ve happened for Jones to prepare for this was the two-Test tour of Argentina in June. Being shorn of his Lions call-ups enabled him to throw several newcomers in at the deep end, with most swimming and not sinking.
This will come in handy as surely by September ’19 he will need to have moved on from the angriness of Mike Brown, the thuggishness of Dylan Hartley, the stupidity of Manu Tuilagi (still dining off his 2012 All Blacks game) and the witless ‘banter’ of James Haskell.
There is a theory that bounds around football regarding how certain managers are destined to be restrained by the law of diminishing returns, best demonstrated recently by Roberto Martinez at Everton and Slaven Bilic at West Ham. They had both replaced very safe, plaid and pragmatic managers, and their loosening of the previous regime’s constraints, combined with adding their motivational spirit, instantly turned the teams around, leading them to unprecedented heights.
By mid-way through their second seasons the magic had worn off, and their third seasons were disasters (Bilic’s third-season disaster is currently unfolding).
After the loss to Ireland in March this year, I thought this effect could take hold, as Jones had re-invigorated everything to do with English rugby after taking over from the headmaster-like Stuart Lancaster. Perhaps this was the ‘magic wearing off’ moment?
Instead, it was a blip – Jones has taken full advantage of the groundwork that Lancaster laid, and elevated players like Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje into some of the best in their position in the world.
Jones appears to be a different man to the one who presided over the Reds’ 92-3 loss in 2007 (never forget!), with the spikiness and belligerence being replaced with more of a wink and a nod, a piss-taking element if you like, in most his ‘out there’ comments. His willingness to learn from outside influences, such as football genius Pep Guardiola, are impressive and breaks the mould of ‘proper rugby men’ being obsessed with rugby, and rugby only.
A life-changing stroke in 2013, in the midst of his time as coach of Japan, more than likely has something to do with his second wind as a top-class international coach, with all the perspective that sort of event brings.
If Eddie Jones can keep England on the upward trajectory they are on, he should be feted as an Australian rugby legend. Take it easy on the Wallabies though, mate.
adastra32
Guest
You have to follow what has happened more closely than you seem to. Jones has a lot of potential to choose from and it has been actively sought and tried out in the last six months. I suspect you will not be seeing entirely the same-olds this November.
taylorman
Roar Guru
True, I actually do.?
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
The really revealing thing in all this is that you actually believe this of yourself. That’s not irony. That’s a whole different thing.
Taylorman
Guest
Cheers DavSA, just not sure how this relates to the post youre replying to, but anyway, the thing for me is Jones will go, and yes hes set some long awaited wheels in motion that suggests England will be a force for some time. But for me all Jones has done has got in at the top of the game, given it a shake up, and shown England how to cut through the rubbish layers of BS thats been preventing them from winning more consistently in the past. When he goes theyre going to have to replace him with someone that knows how to bring the new talent through...and continue winning. To date theyve never had anyone...ever...thats been able to do that. Jones hasnt been there long enough to really develop new players, building mostly on the young side that he got when he arrived. Even Sir Clive Woodward built basically the same team from scratch but in a way that nothing followed. Once it peaked, it died, and someone else had to pick up the pieces. So England havent moved in that respect yet and there is a possibility that they could return to the pre Jones days if they dont get it right Lancaster was able to identify the talent but not turn them into consistent winners. Jones was able to work with the current side and get them winning. Its being able to do both that isnt yet proven. Its where both Henry and Hansen are ahead of everyone else. Yes NZ has the talent but Hansen doesnt sit on his laurels...winning at all costs. Instead he pushes players, often those not quite ready for selection, into the heat of test rugby as soon as he thinks they have potential. There used to be a time where players would have to wait for their turn, where now they usually don't. England need to show that they can develop some obviously strong potential while they continue to win. I dont think any other side has worked that out properly yet. But I do get your point. England are looking, finally, to be a real contender for a long time in the number 1-2 battle for the top, but can take nothing for granted. And when Eddie goes they need to avoid adding back those BS layers back in. I think thats easier to say than do, as England have a history of not being able to realise their potential more. Compare their resources to the other three home unions and they should rarely lose a match.
DavSA
Guest
I don't see it that way T-man . What I have seen of this English side under EJ they really look the Real Deal. They seem to have a strong sense of direction as well as tons of self belief and even if one were hypercritical of them I have to acknowledge the quality of their players and the depth available. I think it is rubbish that in a sport with very few elite nations NZ and England go through a 4 year hiatus without playing one another .Doesn't make any sense at all.
Taylorman
Guest
Yes theres a lot of hoo haa about when they meet next, its suddenly special now because England are the new number one threat? Its no big deal for when they meet for me.
Jaffamike
Guest
I personally think the All Blacks should have avoided playing England all together until the world cup when they potentially could meet in the semi-finals. I think it helps England more to play the All Blacks a year before the world cup than it does NZ, e.g if England lose, it gives them time to sort what ever the reasons were and if they win it will give them a big boost going into the world cup knowing their last game against the All Blacks they won.
Taylorman
Guest
Yes ok then, probably a good thing he has a fixed contract. Jones et all have probably learned from the past, his axeing in 2005 for example. That will probably serve everyone well.
Taylorman
Guest
Yet one did, convincingly, and four matches went to within five points or less. You seem to be saying one thing, but its not reconciling with the actuals. But do I think 2011-15 is a better team. Definitely. Not for any statistical reasons though. Because they won two world cups. This team is not yet ready to win a world cup and will never be more ready than either the 2011 or 2015 sides. It doesnt have the experience. But it has a lot else going for it...youth and enthusiasm and probably a stronger Super rugby base than McCaws sides had, the Blues finishing high enough to have been the Oz conference winner.
Taylorman
Guest
Interesting you say I dont know about English rugby when the irony is it took an outsider to know English rugby better than it knew it itself. It had no idea how to get its side over the winning line for years, despite having the best players and resources to do so. In comes one outsider, and boom, no more losses. I think we outsiders know English rugby better than you know it yourselves....because...you wouldnt be relying on so many of our players and coaches to help you out.
Taylorman
Guest
If you look at the 2016 schedule, you have the following priority...Rugby championship/ Bledisloe cup, then the June series, then the AI's, then Chicago. Its not an excuse, its just the way the importance is reflected as a schedule. And since you use the term 'afford to drop' quite frivalously, I think the Chicago match meets that criteria. That leaves the only loss the three point Westpac loss, and I dont recall McCaws sides having a man down for sixty minutes in any single test of his entire career, let alone the period mentioned. So now the 2011 -15 team doesnt actually include all of 2011?... just the winning ones, oh, I see, that little convenience seemed to have been overlooked. Someone should have said...'the winning part of 2011-2015' then. And unlike the 2011-2015 side, who had the McCaws, Smiths, Nonus, Carters test experience going back to 2000 going into 2011, the 2016 side had to forego 800 test caps and had to cover that minor element in a very short time. To lose one test in a calendar year under those circumstances was a huge effort. And the First non Eden park win since 1994? Just happens to have been with the second best Lions tour to tour here in over a hundred years. Or are they now not considered that good, also for the sake of convenience? You can go round and round on the merits of both sides but in terms of their relative results, neither side is clear of the other.
David
Guest
Going since the 2011 World Cup to the 2015 final, that means that NZ lost 3 games (1 each for Australia, England and SA) and drew 2. That was a period of over 50 games. So since 2015, as you've pointed out, they've played only 24 games and they've already lost twice, once at home, drawn another, and failed to win at Eden park for the first time since the early 90s which resulted in them failing to win a home series, something that is an unprecedented failure for NZ since they became world champions. And I wouldn't have said the Ireland match was the least important one of the year just because it was in Chicago, that's a pretty bad excuse for losing. It was still against one of the world's top teams. If this was McCaw's side they wouldn't have even come close to losing big games like the Lions tests. All the matches they lost since the 2011 World Cup were games they could afford to drop- the SA game was a dead rubber when they already had the championship, the Australia match in the build up to a World Cup and effectively a warm up march etc.
David
Guest
Spot on with everything. I think how poor Australia and South Africa have been recently- particularly last year- has made them look much better than they actually are, and given them a fear factor in the SH that the NH feel much less. Losing to Ireland and the drawn Lions series isn't all; apart from the recent games vs South Africa and Australia their next closest matches since the World Cup were all against NH teams- Ireland again and a 5 point win in Paris. The NH sides have looked more capable of beating them and therefore they don't look as threatening as they did between 2011-15.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
In fairness to Tman, Neil, he often admits he doesn’t watch and is not interested in English Rugby. Given that, his great confidence in the perception of his own views on the matter is even more awe-inspiring.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
The difference is that Jones has already announced he’s finished at the end of the 2019 RWC. It’s not an open-ended gig, but a four-year plan. I think that will prevent any of the blow-ups we’ve seen from him before. I get the impression he’s ruthlessly focused.
Taylorman
Guest
Well I thought it was funny.? ...Jones turns up, England start winning. No need to spin that Neil. Pretty obvious.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Hmmm, then you know less about English rugby than you think ?
Taylorman
Guest
Hmmm, I think thats called spin, not spine. ?
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Jone's didn't give the team spine. He gave the management spine and in the process gave the team belief.
Taylorman
Guest
The one thing England havent catered for is the point at which nobody wants Eddie Jones as coach anymore. Hes a change specialist, which is why he moves on after having reasonable success. Cheikas the same actually, unable to maintain the side at the level he took it too, and is often caught out of ideas through sheer frustration. I think Jones at some point is going to go the same way and that will test Englands spine, where only two years ago they didnt have one. Interesting days ahead. Also dont really get why Alan Jones is coaching the Baabaas. I mean whats the point? Dont they have someone who could do with some high level coaching experience?