The first time I ever laid eyes on Eddie Jones, he was a cheeky little bugger playing hooker for a crack Matraville High School side in Sydney.
That was 42 years ago and he’s still a cheeky little bugger, but one of the world’s best coaches.
The now 59-year-old started his international career with the Wallabies from 2001 to 2005, capturing the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations immediately, another Bledisloe in 2002, and reaching the Rugby World Cup final in 2003 – losing to England with a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal in extra time.
The next appointment in his nomadic career was as assistant to coach Jake White, when the Springboks won their second World Cup, in 2007.
Jones was universally credited with the vastly improved Bok backline that clinched the Cup.
Japan was Jones’ third international appointment, from 2012 to 2015, highlighted by the stunning 34-32 win in extra time over South Africa in the 2015 World Cup. A try in the left-hand corner sealed arguably the biggest shock in the tournament’s history.
Jones became the first to coach four countries when took over the England job in February 2016, after the men in white had failed to reach the quarters of the previous year’s World Cup.
They immediately won the Six Nations Grand Slam for the first time in 13 years, and followed that with the Championship in 2017.
There was a hiccup last year, finishing fifth with only two wins, which had knockers calling for his head.
Wiser heads prevailed, and just as well, Jones bouncing back this season with a first round 32-20 defeat of last year’s Slammers, Ireland, followed by a 44-8, six tries to one, hammering of the French.
That places Jones on track for a second Grand Slam.
Next up Italy, where Jones could declare at half-time, then Scotland, finishing with Wales as the likely Slam decider on March 16.
So where does Jones stand in the pecking order of international coaches since February 2016?
(Photo by David Rogers – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)
Predictably, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen shows the way, with 36 wins from 41 internationals, for an 87.80 per cent success rate.
Jones has run Hansen close, with 30 from 37 for 81.08 per cent.
Ireland’s Joe Schmidt is third, with 27 from 37 for 72.97.
There are seven months and eight days until the 2019 Rugby World Cup kickoff in Japan. If any coach is going to stop the All Blacks from lifting a record third successive William Webb Ellis Trophy, it could only be Jones or Schmidt.
Back the cheeky little bugger.
Ulrich
Guest
I tend to look at who would be the best to have in a RWC final. Probably the more rounded player (B Smith).
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Agree overall, Bob. I've got a mental block about not putting Ben Smith in any World XV, though.
Englishbob
Guest
Yeah but Brodie is a totem, he beat England on his own in November in that second half, whitelock looked exhausted last year and Scott Barrett is good but a bit lightweight to be a permanent replacement yet, if NZ were to lose Brodie to injury for the RWC ( and I really hope they don't) I think they'd struggle to replace him, lock and hooker are two areas of low depth for NZ at the minute, Nathan Harris is good but wouldn't normally be getting caps and Dane Coles may not recover his best now
Englishbob
Guest
Nice article David. Not strictly related but possibly a subject for debate. I read a NZ media article that surmised that at the last RWC NZ has possibly ten+ players in a world XV, now they may have 1/2. For me I'd hazard that the garagebest forward and back are big Brodie R and Barrett the Beauden but past those two the picture gets a bit murkier. There are definitely kiwis of fantastic calibre across the park, but automatic world XV picks? Here's mine, please feel free to poke and prod 1-3 : Furlong Marx Vunipola 4-5 : Retallick Etzebeth( itoje/ James ryan up there) 6-8 : O'Mahony Vunipola pocock 9-10 : de clerk Barrett 11: Johnny may 12 13: open to debate, two of the best 12 crotty and tuilagi are seldom fit. Ringrose @ 13 14: Reiko ijoane 15: Izzy. Entirely subjective of course but that's 3/4 kiwis for me and with the exception of Retallick is probably concede any of the others. Bare in mind that this is form not class, example Ben Smith would be in on history but not current form
adastra32
Roar Rookie
Maybe. Maybe not. Don’t think RSA are up to the highest level – quality or depth-wise. NZ needs to look to its laurels too….
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
And that is also fair especially for Retallick. TBH I think NZ can cover most injuries as they proved in 2015 when Donald had to come in as option No 4 and kicked the winning goal
Kane
Roar Guru
The All Blacks have lost Smith and Retellick for extended periods and still remained No1. Pretty sure Read was absent from the French your last year and the impact was minimal.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Fair point. I’m not sure it’s massively different to other sides, though. For the Vunipolas and Farrell you could say Retallick, Read and Smith. Or Furlong, Sexton and Murray. AWJ, Davies and Williams. Marx, Etzabeth and Vermeulen etc etc.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
You are correct and he is doing well. My biggest issue with the current English squad is the over reliance on one of two players who, if they get injured will have a big effect. I think injuries could affect his team more than some others
Ad-O
Guest
And I remember plenty of internet geniuses writing him off after 2005. The guy is clearly good at what he does and has only got better. Which is more than I can say for the rest of Australian Rugby. Maybe a cautionary tale for those of us expecting that sacking Cheike is a cure for all ills.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Easy. 6N is over. Next.
Kane
Roar Guru
Ireland to be packing their bags after the Quarters. A tired England will scrape through to the Semi and the Final will be contested between NZ and SA
Nick
Guest
I suggest you check the 6 Nations schedule again. Next up for England is Wales not Italy. Followed by Italy then Scotland on 16th March which may be a grand slam decider for England but won't be for Scotland.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Eddie is smart enough to learn from failures and good on him and England.