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Eddie Jones: How England's reaction to All Blacks victory proved to be costly in World Cup final
By Online Editors
England head coach Eddie Jones believes his side received too much praise for their World Cup semi-final victory over the All Blacks, which ultimately cost them when it came to playing in the final a week later.
The English stunned the rugby world with a stunning 19-7 win over the reigning champion, with their defensive fortitude and tactical nous enough to outshine the Kiwis and book their spot in the World Cup final.
However, Jones' side couldn't back that impressive performance up seven days later, as they fell to a formidable Springboks outfit 32-12 in Yokohama, the second-heaviest defeat in World Cup final history.
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In the lead-up to the match, the side were being compared to Sir Clive Woodward's 2003 World Cup-winning side by British media, despite Jones' team having not yet lifted the Webb Ellis Cup.
Writing in his new book My Life and Rugby, Jones spoke about his squad's mindset leading into the Springboks clash, saying that he got it wrong in keeping his side's feet on the ground after their victory over the All Blacks.
"There's also a psychological challenge after the kind of big win we achieved against the All Blacks," Jones wrote, according to The Times.
"While we did play well, I thought the analysis was a bit over the top. Everyone was slapping us on the back, saying how fantastic we were, how it was the best ever performance by an England team and the best ever win at a World Cup.
"The praise was everywhere. The challenge is to bring the players back to reality. It changes the structure and narrative of the week."
Jones also revealed that he made a mistake selection-wise for the final, saying he should have picked loosehead prop Joe Marler ahead of the New Zealand-born Mako Vunipola.
"I had been right against Australia and New Zealand but, as it turned out, in the biggest game of our four-year cycle, I got it badly wrong. Hindsight is a wonderful teacher," he said.
Jones' book is released on November 21.
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“It was true actually. Arteta hasn’t won much, nor slot. Pep has of course, and is a few years older. BUT - here’s the clincher: compare his trophy haul when he was THE SAME AGE AS your other examples! Boom.”
Boom indeed! My point proven. Pep hasn’t gotten better with age - he won loads when he was pretty new to coaching.
But the examples I gave were to show that the top coaches now are younger than the top coaches were 10 years ago. They are also less experienced than the top coaches were 10 years ago - something you seem not to have noticed.
I’m English btw.
Ok so you’re admitting you didn’t really have a point to make wrt Ferguson and spending regulations?
Go to commentsI really like Tupaea. He has come back to a level that might even be higher than before his terrible injury in 2022. And congratulations to him. But objectively, I think he still remains a "lesser" Tavatavanawai in almost all aspects of the game. Furthermore, comparing the stats of the Chiefs and the Landers is not fair. Tupaea benefits from a lot of forwards and a much superior halfback pairing. Tavatavanawai (like Tangitau) works miracles within an average team. Tupaea is good in a very good team.
The All Blacks must select excellence. And excellence is visible at centre and in other positions. I believe the All Blacks have enormous potential, unlike anything seen since 2015. Razor must select the right players; it’s as simple as that... he just needs to bend down to pick them up
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