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Jones to coach Boks at Cup
Rupert Guinness
Monday, July 30, 2007
Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones expects to reach an agreement with the South African Rugby Union today that will see him take up a coaching role with the Springboks for their World Cup campaign in France.
Jones confirmed to the Herald last night that he has been negotiating with the SARU about extending his current one-week consultancy tenure to three months to include the World Cup that starts on September 7.
Jones has already accepted a full-time coaching director's role at English club Saracens for four years, but he said his latest association with the Springboks came with their blessing.
It is expected that Jones will take over as Springboks technical director, replacing Rassie Erasmus, who was appointed coach of the Stormers Super 14 side two weeks ago.
"We have had further discussions. We haven't got everything confirmed yet, but there is a likelihood that I will be doing more with them," Jones said of the Springboks. "I will be there for the start of the World Cup, but not for all of it."
Springboks coach Jake White, a good friend of Jones, told a South African newspaper that he did not want the former Australian coach for the inside information he could provide on the Wallabies.
"Sure, he can give us insight into his observations on any country and player and no one has more intimate knowledge of [George] Gregan and [Stephen] Larkham's technical game than Eddie, but that's not why I want him involved," White said.
"I want Eddie here and in Paris because of the perspective he gives us. This is about what he can do for the Boks and not what he can do in a possible World Cup Test against Australia."
As for Jones, he is unconcerned about the criticism levelled at him by Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill last week.
"I have basically finished coaching in Australia now. I have moved on. And this will be a coaching experience that will help me to be a better coach at Saracens, which is who I am employed by," Jones said.
As for the World Cup, he believes that the Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks will all make the World Cup semi-finals. "It will be just a matter of which northern hemisphere side joins them," said Jones, who rates the Springboks highly.
"They are a very good side. They have shown that in the last period of time. When they have put their best teams on the field they have been very good," he said, adding that he has had to come to terms with rugby's prominence in the republic.
"They are really passionate about their rugby. They are committed, as most national sides are. The thing that stands out, and it is the same in New Zealand, is the rugby culture.
"In both New Zealand and South Africa, rugby is the No.1 sport and the focus on the team is clearly more significant than it is in other countries."
And what if Australia meets South Africa in the quarter-finals? "It would be interesting," said Jones, who then laughed at the prospect of daring to look across at the Wallabies coaching box.
"But it is a long time since I have been involved with the Wallabies. People forget that. The last time was 2005. The war settlement is pretty final, mate."
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
what a DOG!!! how could you do something like that and feel good about yourself? shows how low of a person he has become!
Originally Posted by mixmastamark
no worse than the ARU chasing Deans
Touche. Good on him, he's taking the vital role of feeding misinformation to our enemy, the dirty Bokke. Next year Crazy Eddie will be awarded the Order of Australia or some shitzen like that.
HIP HIP HOORAY FOR EDDIE!!!
(but keep this under wraps, don't want the dirty Bokke to find out about our cunning plan. Its a plan so cunning you could brush your teeth with it).
Laura Force Addict v Chook scrabble-off on Facebook: laura & Force Addict 0 | chook 9
Gigsa made me do it
"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty." – Lao Tzu
I think Eddy is a great coach and will do wonders for the Boks in the RWC!
I would say it is from the perspective that he is going in direct competition with the coach he was replaced by and up against the Union he appears to have a grievance with. Just seems an inappropriate move that will be considered by many to be rather unethical.Originally Posted by brokendown gunfighter
Just happy to be here
Good on him, John Mitchell has no doubt had meetings with John Connolly somewhere along the line....
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Hehehe, saffas are so cute, in a crazy way!
Jake’s Jones coup
Saturday 28 July 2007
Eddie Jones will be the Boks technical director at the World Cup, writes Keo in the Independent Newspapers.
Springbok coach Jake White has pulled off a potential masterstroke - and put Australian noses out of joint in the build-up to the World Cup.
Former Wallabies coach Jones is set to replace Rassie Erasmus as the Springboks’ Technical Director in Jake White’s most emphatic statement of intent that every avenue will be explored to give South Africa an edge at the World Cup.
SA Rugby Pty Ltd Managing Director Jonathan Stones confirmed to The Independent on Saturday that he had agreed in principle to White’s request to involve Jones on a short-term World Cup contract.
The details of the contract would be discussed on Monday and Stones would explain his decision to the Board.
“In principle I support the coach and think it is a fantastic opportunity. I need to make sure the numbers add up and the next step in the process is to ensure they do and motivate my decision to the board,” said Stones.
The arrangement would see Jones in the next three months alternate between Paris (with the Boks) and London where he is to take up a four-year contract as Saracens Director of Coaching.
Australian CEO John O’Neill earlier in the week attacked Jones’s decision to link up with the Boks on a one-week consultancy.
You don’t need a crystal ball to know what his reaction will be to a three-month involvement.
O’Neill also questioned Jones’s ethics because of his recent involvement with Australian rugby.
Jones responded by calling O’Neill a hypocrite and reminded O’Neill he had left rugby for soccer in the year of the soccer World Cup, vowed never to return to Australian rugby and on the eve of the rugby World Cup had agreed to again head up Australian rugby.
Jones, who coached the Wallabies between 2001 and 2005, said he was a professional coach and rejected accusations he is betraying Australian rugby.
White told The Independent on Saturday he rated Jones as the world rugby’s best technical analyst and he spoke glowingly of Jones’s contribution to the Boks in the last week. He also challenged O’Neill’s comments regarding Jones’s integrity.
“Eddie’s one of the most passionate guys I’ve met when it comes to rugby. He is also one of the most principled.
“Sure he can give us insight into his observations on any country and player and no one has a more intimate knowledge on Gregan and Larkham’s technical game than Eddie, but that’s not why I want him involved.
“I want Eddie here and in Paris because of the perspective he gives us.
“This is about what he can do for the Boks and not what he can do in a possible World Cup Test against Australia,” said White, who was forced to reconsider his options after Erasmus was appointed Stormers coach last week.
“I had to think fast and this opportunity presented itself. Eddie showed an interest to be involved for the World Cup and I share that interest,” said White.
Jones, should there be no unexpected curveball, will become the fifth Australian to work with the Boks in the last five years.
Former Bok coach Harry Viljoen appointed Tim Lane as his backline coach in 2001, while Less Kiss and Frank Ponissi (defensive coaches) and Mike Byrne (kicking and skills coach) also contributed to the Viljoen era. Ponissi and Lane were also a part of Rudolf Straeuli’s management team at some stage between 2002 and 2003.
Byrne has been with the All Blacks for the last four years.
“Having outside influence in our rugby is nothing new,” said White. “It can only be good for our campaign.”
Stones agreed, saying professionalism demanded investing in the best options available.
South Africa’s two premier Super rugby teams, the Bulls and Sharks, both benefited from Australian input this year, with Australian backs coach Todd Louden adding an attacking edge to the Bulls and New Zealander John Plumtree influential in the Sharks resurgence.
White, in encouraging Jones to align himself with the Boks, has shown the kind of innovation usually associated with Australian sports coaches.
If Australian coach John Connolly had lured Nick Mallett, as an example, to consult with the Australians it would have been sold to the media as a stroke of genius. For once Australia is on the receiving end and to add insult to O’Neill it is ‘Sideshow Bob’ who has stolen a yard on the Wallabies.
Jones’s technical knowledge of Australian rugby is unrivalled and he has intimate knowledge of the All Blacks, having plotted their demise at the 2003 World Cup.
Posted by keo
And here are some of the responses from Keo's website. Saffa Gold I say!
Originally Posted by Crazy saffas
Laura Force Addict v Chook scrabble-off on Facebook: laura & Force Addict 0 | chook 9
Gigsa made me do it
"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty." – Lao Tzu
That is exceptional Chook...expecailly like the comment to Wallabie...."Do you cry when you masturbate to Waltzing Matilda?"...very funny.
Just happy to be here
"you dont hear us crying about rattlebones or vickerman do you?" You kidding me, they still boo Aussie Clyde!!! Vicks seems to have got away with it but they wanted to lynch Clyde's Grandmother earlier because she wanted to move HOME to Australia...
Comment by Jake_White : July 28, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
9.
That’s great news, his recent coaching record with the Reds was superb.![]()
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"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
What a bunch of Pr#cks, they like bagging us, but they gladly except help from an Aussie
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to ..........."
They can have him. The Saffas haven't worked out that Eddie can't get a job in Australia because he pisses everyone off. I wonder how long it will take till it turns sour??
Posted via space
Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.
*sigh*
Jones and White together... well that'll make for a controversial pair!
I made Happy sad...