Eddie Jones describes recruiting assistant coaches as 'smash and grab' trophy heist
Eddie Jones won't dictate tactics to Super Rugby Pacific coaches but he may call on them to join his coaching staff for the Wallabies World Cup push.
Since returning to the helm of Australia last month, the make-up of Jones's backroom staff has been a hot topic.
Jones has a reputation for pushing his assistants to the limit and he has yet to make a call on the futures of Dan McKellar and Laurie Fisher, who remain from Dave Rennie's regime.
Attack coach Scott Wisemantel, who previously worked with Jones with England, quit before Rennie was axed while ex-Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has said he has unfinished business in the NRL.
Jones said he had contemplated picking the best brains out of the five Super Rugby sides to formulate his Wallabies support staff.
"We've got a bit of a smash and grab job, it's nine and a half months and (it's like) there's a beautiful jewellery store around the corner," Jones said.
"You've got to get four or five coaches that can work together to get in there, steal the trophy and get out without getting caught.
"In a lot of ways, we've got time because as a coaching team, we need to be together probably for the last six or eight weeks of Super Rugby, where selection is going to become important."
Returning to the role in January, Jones said he planned to have face to face talks with every coach of an Australian franchise in the coming months.
The 63-year-old said he wouldn't be dictating tactics to the Super Rugby sides but would offer input into where he thought potential Wallabies would be best suited.
"We don't tell the Super teams how to play," he said ahead of next Friday's opener between the Waratahs and Brumbies.
"We're not New Zealand or Ireland - we're Australia.
"We have a relationship with the Super Rugby coaches but I want them to play the style they want to play.
"What I want to see is that the players play with that toughness that want to get better, they want to help their teammates in difficult situations."
Jones reiterated how critical Super Rugby games were to steel Australia's players for the pressure of Test rugby.
"The games against the Crusaders or whoever the strongest New Zealand side is, they are the important selection games," Jones said.
"That's where you'll see (what you want) from the players.
"The expectation is they play well and consistently play well.
"It'd be nice to have an Australian side win the Super Rugby final."
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I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
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