Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has compared Quade Cooper to All Blacks great Dan Carter and given a telling assessment of Will Skelton’s World Cup selection hopes.
Jones, speaking to media ahead of coaching the Barbarians team featuring Cooper and Samu Kerevi, also said he was “almost a volunteer” considering he could have taken on more lucrative jobs before opting to return to Australia.
In a typically expansive mood, he told English media that he felt he needed to come back to Australia for the game’s sake.
“When the opportunity came I jumped at it because rugby is in a fairly dark place and needs a bit of energy, needs a bit of direction and I can only do my bit coaching the national team but obviously I can do a job selling the game there, which I have taken on, so I am enjoying it,” Jones said.
“We bought a rugby league player (Joseph Suaalii) to get back in the shop window, that is 100 per cent true and now people are talking about rugby again. Then the other bits are just a bit of fun.”
Jones, who was the highest paid coach in the world before he was let go by England, suggested he was taking a significant loss coming back to Australia.
“Post-England I always knew there were possibilities. There was a country that was going to pay me as much as I’m getting — look, I’m almost a volunteer in Australia — that was going to pay me as much not to coach. So, there was always going to be a job there,” Jones said.
Jones, who said he felt no emotion about England despite having coached them, is clearly excited about working with Cooper again and seeing him in partnership with Kerevi.
“They haven’t played a lot together so it’s a really good opportunity for those two to work together. It’s exciting, the back line we could have. Power and pace, it’s frightening,” Jones said.
“I look at (Cooper) like Dan Carter. He is a different sort of player but just from the maturity point of view.
“I last coached Quade when he was a young swashbuckling, loose-as-you-can-be No 10 out of high school. Now he is a mature, serious, looks-after-his-body-like-a-temple rugby player with a good command of how he wants to play the game.”
Samu Kerevi and Quade Cooper. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
He was also asked about the impact of Will Skelton, who starred as La Rochelle won the Champions Cup final last weekend.
“I have seen parts of the (final) but he was enormous,” Jones said. “You look at the World Cup, probably up to the quarter-finals they are going to be pretty quick games, flat pitches, sun shining but you know once you get to [the] Stade de France, heavy atmosphere, heavy pitch and it becomes a set-piece contest and having a right-hand side lock like him is a big advantage.”
Jones also spoke about the challenge of raising the Wallabies to the point they think they can win the World Cup despite slipping to 7th in the world rankings, and the style he wants to see.
“It is about raising the expectation of the players because their expectation has been too low and we need to raise it,” Jones said.
“We need to work a bit harder and need to create a style of rugby that is quintessentially Australian. We have been copying other teams and that is not the Australian way.”
He said that was a style that is “more about intent. Australians, in whichever sport they play, are much better when they are aggressive, when they are positive, when they are in the face of the opposition, we are doing it our way and we are at the opposition with numbers at the line in attack and defence like mongrel dogs running around and that is where we are at our best.”
Jones meanwhile dismissed World XV coach Steve Hansen’s suggestion that Australia have an “easy ride”at the World Cup.
“I don’t buy into that. Having been to a fair few World Cups every quarter-final is tough every semi-final is tough and every final is tough. So I don’t understand that rationale,” said Jones.
Jones is likely to receive a spicy reception at Twinckenham this week.
“I never worry about things I can’t control. I don’t control [the sort of reception I’ll get], so it’s no use even thinking about it,”he said.
“I had a great seven years here. Loved my time here and I’m looking forward to it. The sun is shining. It will be unbelievable. I am going to enjoy every moment of it.”
frisky
Roar Rookie
No "power and pace" from Cooper. He has lost his speed over distance. Nice passes but some dangerous flicks which can cost. Great kicking into space and territory. What is his defence like now? I shudder to think what will happen when big forwards run into him.
Big A
Roar Rookie
Hey Guess - interesting comment - what's Carter got to do with it anyway? - ask that question again in 6 mths time
Jimbo81
Roar Rookie
The best game of Rennie’s tenure was his first Bledisloe which ended up being a draw. Most of his players were inherited at that stage. Mostly downhill from there except when QC was available.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Donaldson lolesio playing well? What are you smoking? Donaldson is the reason tahs can't be top team. He played much better last year. Lolesio realistically only had 2 good games. And what does Gordon even have to do with it all? Why do you expect a national coach to make player better? Like tf. It's player's job to be good enough to be selected.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Why would’ve foketi needed to be looked at when kerevi was playing? That’s nothing but speculation about hoops. How could he burn him for like 3 games? So lolesio playing like 12 before Rennie even came into the picture is somehow rennies fault? What strategy did you expect from him? To teach him how to play 10 at test level that which he couldn’t even play at sr level? As I said it’s finally started to click and then they ditched him. If Jones pick similar squad and wins which is tbh unlikely it’s just delusional to give him full credit for it
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Well Big A perhaps it should be you, that changes the legislation, as are there not people from other nations claiming what is their entitlement, here & of having other citizenships. I even know of some that have more than dual citizenships, being in Aussie.
Qualify
Roar Rookie
What are you on about? He picked NL from day 1. And even if there were limited flyhalves, you'd think the one's at his disposal would get better under his influence and guidance. They didn't. They regressed. Then he had to fish for Quade and later Foley. Because NL couldn't cut it after how long and how many chances. I was a Rennie fan initially, but to me it became apparent pretty quickly that he was indecisive and couldn't get his guys to fire. Just not a good fit, and it's no coincidence that all of a sudden Donaldson, Gordon and NL are playing their best now that there's a new sheriff in town. Long may it last.
Big A
Roar Rookie
Hey Guess - I don’t agree - most of Rennie’s depth expansion was not from good planning - rather from being forced to select these guys - e.g. Frost would not have got a look in if it wasn’t for injuries - ditto Foketi and a few of the others - the strategy behind Noah was ridiculous - it’s a wonder the poor bloke isn’t scarred for life and instead of understanding where Hoops was at he burned him - so let’s not get too carried away with praise for Rennie and Eddie inheriting some sort of ready made squad of world beaters - simply not true - Rennie certainly did not fail completely but you can’t call his reign was a success
Big A
Roar Rookie
My view is that Quade is a better player than Farrell - if you don’t agree Regal - then that’s ok too - plenty of room for both of us - happy to debate where Hooper sits in the pantheon as well - next you’ll tell me Hendrai Pollard from SA is a world class no.10 as well
PeterK
Roar Guru
i repeat in their last year EJ's had a better record than dr in his last year
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Wow, did not know the Professor was back. Huge news for Nz Rugby. And I believe you’re right. If he can replicate his results with the AB’s like he did with the BF’s, it could be another “Golden” period for the AB’s.
BlouBul
Roar Rookie
' EJ wishful thinking, or delusional'......both
Guess
Roar Rookie
Based on what?
Guess
Roar Rookie
Ask England players how he 'inspired them' and ask English fans how inspired they were by his excuses and whining. Cheika also was 'inspirational' but clueless. What's the point
Guess
Roar Rookie
Since you're as good as your last game/year reality is ra changed better coach for worse. Jones even lost his last game, to sa lol Oh and btw Rennie had better win rate against them too :laughing:
Guess
Roar Rookie
Did you actually say that? Rennie backed nl? Are you ok? He didn’t want to select he had no choice. Yeah he found Foley cause there was no other 10. You’re contradicting yourself on nl. He didn’t have fullback cause sr teams didn’t have fullback he had to experiment. That’s the whole work that Jones is now inherited for nothing. His team progressed if you don’t see it you’re clueless. I wasn’t Rennie fan from the start but he definitely improved the squad. They were a threat to the top teams. All they needed is some luck with no injuries and 10
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Yeah they do… do they surpass Owen Farrells achievements as Im trying to understand how Owen Farrell and Johnny Sexton don’t hold a candle to Quade. I meanthe way Big A is talking Quade is the greatest first five of his era… where is the evidence of that… I mean Sexton and Frrell don’t hold a candle to him, so wondering if there were any facts to support these statements…
Riktor
Roar Rookie
Quade was part of two Tri nations titles and won numerous Mandela cups or don`t they count?
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Yes… your view is just your opiniom, not the truth you know that right If someone said a player has played a decade of tests for England, was one of the highest point scorers in the history of the game, was selected and played for the British lions… i woukd think they are world class. I know its not the Wallabies… but yeah, he is very well respected as an international world class rugby players by coaches and players alike… i know not you, but in the bigger picture I don’t see how ypur view is the generally accepted one.. outside of your head of course. In light of Farrells achievements what has Quade achieved, putting aside your views on coaches, Michael Hooper etc.
Big A
Roar Rookie
hey Muzz - the concept of dual citizenship has always troubled me - almost hypocritical - no problems if someone wants to change citizenship, but they should be made to renounce their original citizenship - else wise, more than welcome as some sort of guest - you shouldn't be able to have your cake and eat it