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How Eddie Jones plans to beat 'the greatest team in sport' in World Cup semi-final

Beauden Barrett celebrates scoring a try for the All Blacks against Ireland in their quarter-final clash in Tokyo. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Eddie Jones has braced England to face what he is claiming is the most dominant team in the history of sport but is convinced New Zealand can be dethroned in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final.

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Jones points to the All Blacks‘ win percentage of 86 since successfully defending the Webb Ellis Trophy four years ago to support his view that they occupy a unique position, also insisting the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship is tougher than Europe’s Six Nations.

The All Blacks’ 46-14 demolition of Ireland has set up a seismic showdown in Yokohama but Jones insists his quarter-final conquerors of Australia have the potential to seize greatness for themselves.

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“We have a challenge this week because we are playing the greatest team that has ever been in sport,” said Jones.

“If you look at their record I don’t think there’s a team that comes close to them for sustainability. Since the last World Cup they’ve won a high percentage of their tests.

“Name me another team in the world that plays at the absolute top level that wins so many of their games.

“They are playing in the toughest competition in the world against the best all the time. I just admire them. To do what they do from a small country is incredible.

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“It’s an example of what you can do. People are raving about Japan at the moment and it’s fantastic but you look at what New Zealand have done with four million people.

“You have to admire them, but then the challenge is to beat them and the reason I took this job is because I saw a team that could be great. That was the challenge and they are starting to believe it.

“New Zealand are a great team with a great coach with a great captain, but like any team they are beatable and there are ways to beat them.

England are attempting reach the final for the first time since 2007 and Jones welcomes the challenge.

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“We are in a World Cup in a neutral country, referees, crowd, atmosphere and the teams that adapt are the ones making it to the end of the competition,” Jones said.

“Now talent doesn’t matter – it’s all about how strong the team is. When you get to this stage of the tournament, it’s about how strong the team is.

“We’re a strong team and we’re getting stronger all the time. We’re believing in each other, we believe in the way we play. We’re playing to our strengths.

“Look at the second-half score against Australia – it was 23-7. That doesn’t come from blowing magic dust, it comes from working hard.”

AAP

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SK 27 minutes ago
'Tonyball, ageing warriors and worrying growth' - What the Springboks learned from the Rugby Championship

The Springboks are developing well however there are still concerns over depth at 6,7 and 8. Yes PSDT and Siya had a great championship and Marco and Jasper were excellent but when Jasper was injured there was no good options to replace him at 8 and at 7 even fewer options to replace PSDT. Smith has been excellent from the bench. Franco Mostert is now past it and cant play in the loosies, yes Hanekom and Louw are to come back but they are struggling to stay fit and between them have just a few caps so are hardly experienced campaigners. So the Boks need to find new options fast as I believe Kolisi is waning and is only capable of a good 50-60mins. By the next world cup he will be a bench player at best and PSDT is a monster but he will be 2 years older come 2027 and may not be an 80min player. Paul de Villiers looks good for the Stormers and would love to seem him in the squad. As for Eben he is hardly raging against the dying light. He has been dominated in the collisions this year and struggled at times. Rassie is now pulling him in the 50th minute as he drops of severely after that. I cant see him making the next world cup unless he wraps himself in cotton wool for large parts of the domestic season. DDA and Kriel are also too slow as a combo now. That was obvious in losses to Aus and NZ and more so in the final 20 against Argy in London. Boks have some backup at 12 and 13 though with Willemse, Sacha, Hooker all able to play there but I would like to see Henco Van Vyk given a chance. Front row and backfield look healthy and 9 and 10 have many options. Boks in good shape but would love to see even more youngsters given a chance on this tour.

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