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'That doesn’t make him a bad coach. He’s still a very good coach'

By PA
Japan's new head rugby coach Eddie Jones speaks during a press conference to speak about the new squad for upcoming matches in Tokyo on May 30, 2024. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP) (Photo by RICHARD A. BROOKS/Afp/AFP via Getty Images)

Ben Youngs has warned England that Eddie Jones remains an elite coach whose second term with Japan will be driven by his recent failures.

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Jones and Steve Borthwick will go head to head for the first time when the Australian and his former number two clash in the master and apprentice duel that underpins England’s tour opener in Tokyo on Saturday.

It has been just 18 months since Jones was sacked by the Rugby Football Union for a downturn in results, yet before returning to Japan he squeezed in a disastrous homecoming with the Wallabies that ended when they failed to emerge from the group stage of last autumn’s World Cup.

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But the 64-year-old has the highest win rate of any England head coach with 73 per cent and Youngs, his first choice scrum-half for the whole of his seven-year reign, insists he is still a formidable operator.

“Eddie is honestly one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. Tactically, he’s very, very good,” said England’s most capped player, who will be in action for Barbarians against Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday.

“For whatever reason it didn’t work with Australia. That doesn’t make him a bad coach. He’s still a very good coach. He’s still very intelligent in how he sees the game.

“We had a really successful time at England. We had some tough periods, of course we did. But he’s honestly one of the best coaches I’ve had.

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“I’m sure he’ll embrace the challenge of Japan. I’m sure he’ll bottle everything how it unfolded with England and how it unfolded with Australia.

“You just know that because of what he’s like as a character, he’ll be taking Japan back to the World Cup in Australia.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if suddenly Australia and Japan are in the same pool – that’s just the way the stars align with him – and he would love it.

“Rugby needs characters like Eddie and he brings a lot of entertainment. He divides opinion, I get that, but if I got the opportunity to work under him again I would jump at it.”

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The battle of the coaches is a fascinating sub-plot to a match that should see a revamped Japan team swept aside by England ahead of their first Test against New Zealand in a fortnight.

A stunning victory over Ireland and heroic last-gasp defeat to France put a shine on the Six Nations for Borthwick’s men, who are close to full strength for opponents they dispatched with ease at the World Cup.

“As soon as this fixture was announced I thought ‘that’s going to be an entertaining week’,” Youngs said.

“Steve will want momentum leading into the first game against New Zealand. England were really positive in the last two weeks of the Six Nations when the style complimented the team.

“Eddie will want high ball in play. He’ll want to shift England around. He’ll want the ball in and out of the scrums. England equally want to scrum, want to maul.

“Eddie and Steve are very tactical coaches so it will be quite interesting how that plays out.

“In terms of them both personally, without doubt they’ll both take satisfaction if they win.”

 

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1 Comment
H
Head high tackle 186 days ago

Its Eddi’s results that make him a bad coach. All the other stuff just makes him a dick head. 0% wins v tier 1 nations last year isnt the results a decent coach gets and a 22% win rate in a WC year where you play tier 2 teams is just terrible.

C
CM 187 days ago

How on earth did Jones pick Youngs when he was always the 4th or 5th best Engllish 9 playing in the Premiership? Nope Jones selection and playing players out of position and tactics were simply awful as evidenced by the games lost. Most with Youngs at 9.

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SK 9 hours ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.

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