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Wallaby jumps to defence of Eddie Jones after England camp revelations

By PA
Eddie Jones (Getty Images)

Australia centre Samu Kerevi has defended Eddie Jones after claims the coach ruled by fear during his seven-year spell in charge of England.

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Former England scrum-half Danny Care claimed in his autobiography that “everyone was bloody terrified of him” and compared Jones’ regime to a dystopian novel.

In an excerpt of Care’s new book, Everything Happens for a Reason: My Life in Rugby, published by The Times, the 37-year-old said: “Did Eddie rule by fear? Of course he did, everyone was bloody terrified of him.

“(England wing) Jonny May probably summed up the situation best: he’d walk in for breakfast, head down, muttering, ‘Expect anything today, boys, expect anything …’

“We used to say to each other, ‘Just remember, boys, everything’s a test,’ as if we were characters in a dystopian novel.”

Fixture
Internationals
England
10:10
9 Nov 24
Australia
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But Kerevi, currently preparing for the first match of Australia’s UK and Ireland tour against England at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, takes a different view of 64-year-old Australian Jones, now in his second spell as Japan head coach.

Kerevi, currently at Japanese club Urayasu D-Rocks and who played under Jones during his second stint as Wallabies coach until October last year, said: “I wouldn’t say (it was) terrifying.

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“I think it’s how you take it. I grew up in a different culture to what it is now in rugby.

“The pursuit of excellence puts pressure on everyone and I think that’s just what Eddie is like.

“I’ve got a good relationship with Eddie. I think he puts pressure, not just on the players, but the staff.

“I think that’s what Danny Care’s talking about, but again, it’s how you receive it. Whether you thrive under it.

“I guess for us he didn’t get the results, in the last year with Eddie, but our focus now is on Joe and the team. I wish Eddie all the best.”

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Australia will launch their four-match tour under current coach Joe Schmidt against England before facing Wales, Scotland and Ireland on successive weekends through November.

The Wallabies finished bottom of the Rugby Championship in September after winning just one of their six matches, slumping to their biggest Test defeat when losing 67-27 to Argentina in Santa Fe.

Schmidt’s side will start as underdogs at Twickenham, but Kerevi added: “We can’t think too much about the outside noise. We’re focused internally.

“We know what it takes to be at our best. We’re here to win this weekend and we’re preparing accordingly.”

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1 Comment
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Bull Shark 8 hours ago

Says a lot more about the English players making childish remarks about their coach, instead of getting on with their jobs and being professionals.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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