Rugby News: World Cup-winning coach's parting shot at Aussie, Barrett contract clarified, NRL veteran's new gig

Sir Clive Woodward has delivered his former sparring partner one final parting shot, slamming the door shut on the Eddie Jones era and welcoming the appointment of Steve Borthwick as England coach.

The former World Cup-winning coach, who pipped Jones in the 2003 final, didn’t miss the chance to rub salt into the wound in a column for the Daily Mail.

In a cautionary tale of tools to succeed, Woodward said successful international coaches needed three key things to achieve greatness; “outstanding team culture”, “selection” and “how he wants England to play”.

In two of those aspects, Woodward took Jones to the cleaners.

Woodward said Borthwick would be a “breath of fresh air” while also pointing to the high turnover of staff under Jones.

“Borthwick runs an honest environment and the RFU should follow suit,” Woodward wrote in the Daily Mail.

“We will now see an end to the merry-go-round of coaches under Jones. The turnover of players and staff was highly unsettling.”

World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward has not missed the chance to rub salt into Eddie Jones’ wound. Photo: DaveRogers /Allsport

On selection, Woodward was even more fierce in his criticism of the Australian despite Jones holding England’s greatest win-loss record (73%).

“The second thing Borthwick must get right is selection. It is obvious, but Jones got it badly wrong. He wasn’t good at it,” he said.

Woodward finished by saying “challenges” lay ahead for Borthwick, but for the first time he was excited for the year ahead.

“I’m now really looking forward to the next year – and that hasn’t been the case for three years. He is the right man to do it. English fans need to get behind him,” Woodward concluded.

Eddie Jones breaks silence

Meanwhile, Jones broke his silence during an interview with French newspaper Midi Olympique.

Jones, who has been linked to role in the USA, Australia and Japan, said he may have become “too nice” during the latter stages of his seven-year tenure with England.

“I was certainly too hard on the players 20 years ago, when I started with the Wallabies,” he told Midi Olympique.

“But I have evolved a lot in my management over the years. I even think that I have been too nice to the players in recent years.”

Jones also revealed his greatest regret as England coach, saying the decision to select players from Saracens during the club’s demotion due to salary cap breaches hurt the national side’s performance in 2021 and flowed into 2022.

“We always make mistakes. If today I could go back in time, maybe I would change some of my selection criteria,” he said

“2021 was a very bad year for us. Saracens had just been demoted to the second division. As you probably know, the XV of England was then mainly formed by players from the Sarries.

“The problem is that their level has dropped considerably, in the second division and that the performances of our national team immediately suffered from it.

“So I should have changed my tune, that year. And I regret it, this is the mistake I made.”

Eddie Jones says he was “too nice” to players as England coach. Photo: Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images

The Australian coach also said he noticed a shift in the wind following England’s 25-25 draw to the All Blacks in November.

“I had a meeting with the senior directors of the RFU,” Jones said. “I felt, that day, that the atmosphere was bizarre. They were not like they usually are with me. After that, the British media became more and more critical. I understood then that the end was nigh.”

Jones’ comments came on the same day RFU chief Bill Sweeney played down the fact their relationship had deteriorated.

Instead, the RFU boss said Jones’ sacking was due to concerns that England would not improve before the World Cup next year.

“We weren’t convinced it was going to get better,” he said. “I don’t think you can have an obsession with a World Cup once every four years and write everything else off for that goal. We want to win every Six Nations, and we should want to win every Six Nations game.

“Most conversations with Eddie tend to revolve around World Cups, whether that is because of his previous experiences there, or because he’s never won one [as head coach].

“There was absolutely no breakdown in relationship with Eddie,” added Sweeney, who said he would be “amazed” if Jones were not with a team at next year’s World Cup.”

Barrett says ‘nobody is bigger than the team’

New Zealand Rugby and, crucially, not Beauden Barrett floated the idea of playing overseas but still being available for All Blacks selection.

Beauden Barrett has cleared the air on his All Blacks stance. Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Last week a New Zealand Herald report said Barrett had asked if he could be considered for the All Blacks while playing for an offshore club.

But that report has since proved to be somewhat incorrect, with NZR confirming they floated the idea with the two-time World Cup player of the year.

“In discussions with Beauden about his potential to remain in New Zealand beyond the World Cup, NZR management raised a possible option of him playing for the All Blacks in between participating in offshore competitions in one year of a much longer term,” NZ Rugby said in a statement.

“All parties were aware that further discussion and decision on this remained subject to NZR board decision.

“Any suggestion that Beauden proactively came to NZR seeking exceptional treatment is incorrect. He remains a highly regarded employee of NZR.”

Barrett meanwhile said that he was “disappointed” to be thought of someone who considered themselves “bigger than the team”.

“Like a lot of players at this stage of their career, I’m considering my options for 2024 and beyond and when the contract people at NZR mentioned the possibility that I could play two years of club football overseas and remain available for the All Blacks I was obviously willing to listen,” Barrett told The Spinoff.

“I love playing for the All Blacks and still believe I have something to offer, but as my career is nearer the end than the start, I’m also keen to explore other options and experiences.

“I was really disappointed by the [report’s] implication that I’d tried to put myself above the rules, though. One of the first things that’s drummed into you in rugby is that nobody is bigger than the team and I believe in that idea wholeheartedly.”

Scotland gun’s Premiership move confirmed

It is understood by The Roar that Barrett has been floated to Racing 92, who are on the hunt for a star playmaker after Finn Russell signed a mega deal worth an estimated $AU1.8 million.

“To be able to join such a historic, well-supported club is really exciting,” Russell said in a statement.

“I know players at Bath who speak highly of the environment, and the direction the club is going in is something I want to be a part of.

“I’ve enjoyed my time at Racing 92 and I’ve learned a lot. Now is the right time for a new challenge, in a new league, with the aim of moving Bath back to the top end of the Premiership and competing for domestic and European titles.”

Puletua joins Ocenia Rugby

Former NRL veteran Frank Puletua has been named the General Manager (GM) of Oceania Rugby.

Puletua joins OR following more than 10 years service at the National Rugby League (NRL), most recently as the GM International Strategy & NRL Awards since May 2018.

Puletua played the XV a side game as a youngster before becoming a professional NRL rugby league player with Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs over 13 seasons.