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'They didn't have Maradona but they had some great players and had a great team'

26 Nov 2020

(Photo by Martin Bureau/AFP via Getty Images)

England boss Eddie Jones has lauded the World Cup-winning feats of the 2011 and 2015 All Blacks, but he doesn’t believe rugby isn’t a sport designed to have global superstars such as the late Argentina footballer Diego Maradona, whose death on Wednesday at the age of 60 sparked an outpouring of grief around the world.

Maradona’s stellar football career has been much celebrated with the compilation of multiple highlights reels showing off his immense individual prowess on the pitch and the coverage around the world that his tragic passing has garnered illustrated the pulling power that a single footballer can have.

Maradona was the talisman whose fantastic performances drove Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 in Mexico before he went on to drag lowly Napoli from the doldrums to win an Italian league that no-one gave them a chance of winning.

TJ Perenara and Caleb Clarke set the scene ahead of the All Blacks vs Argentina rematch this weekend

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TJ Perenara and Caleb Clarke set the scene ahead of the All Blacks vs Argentina rematch this weekend

That similar type of individual influence, though, is something Australian Jones doesn’t feel possible in rugby due to the nature of what is involved in that sport in order to be successful.

“Maradona was one of those guys who captured the whole world, didn’t he? Rugby has never been as such an individual sport, it has been more of a team sport,” said Jones, going on to mention the All Blacks.

"Every team has got its big explosive ball carriers that grab the limelight, but who’s resourcing rucks, who’s doing that nitty gritty, the boring stuff?"#AutumnNationsCup #WALvENG 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿https://t.co/pJiq6LBGTe
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 26, 2020

“If I’m in the pub and I’m talking about great teams, I’m talking about that great All Blacks team in 2011 and 2015. They didn’t have Maradona but they had some great players and they had a great team.

“The great thing about our game is it’s a team game, it’s a complex game, you need people working with each other and I don’t think it matters whether rugby has got someone like that [Maradona]. The big thing is that we play rugby with a spirit and a passion that people want to see.”

Nobody will upstage @LosPumas' passion on Saturday – but do they really have the manpower to make mass changes and still to do the double over the @AllBlacks? #ARGvNZL #TriNations #AllBlacks #LosPumas https://t.co/yaXBGKu8l0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 26, 2020

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Comments on RugbyPass

Over the sideline 2 minutes ago

Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

Developing Japan has been going for decades. They won’t ever become a strong rugby nation as they simply arnt built for it physically. Fiji just beat Scotland and should have beaten Aus. They are going great and Drua is bringing theu more and more every year. Fiji's issues are more often around getting there NH contracted players released.

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IkeaBoy 3 minutes ago

Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

The English players union has been traditionally strong but I'd certainly worry about Russell. He's in great later career form but is a third of the way into a lucrative contract. They'll squeeze every ounce out of him.

56 Go to comments

Over the sideline 6 minutes ago

Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

Id love to see a div 2 6N. Have promotion/relegation.

SH depth probably bot there for a dic 2 RC but something could be done.

56 Go to comments

Over the sideline 20 minutes ago

'A series against the French would be one for the ages': Ex-Lions call for change

That’s not much different to 2017 except for a North or south island team, which arnt actual teams anyway.

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Over the sideline 33 minutes ago

Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027

Yeah happy to agree to disagree re RM. Either way he’s older than Dmac so definately looking to younger no matter what.

81 Go to comments

Over the sideline 38 minutes ago

Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027

Quite simply contracts have to have dates on them and eligibility is around the contract dates. It seems all of NZRs contracts are based around the NPC.

81 Go to comments

Over the sideline 44 minutes ago

Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027

Lacking? He was in there for 5 years. It was HIM that was lacking. He was part of the problem, not the solution. He's older than Dmac and not much younger than BB. Not the future.

81 Go to comments

Over the sideline 52 minutes ago

Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027

Awesome, we need to lose three in a row. 😁😁Is there another NZ 10 that’s managed that? Mertrins maybe?

81 Go to comments

Over the sideline 59 minutes ago

Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027

Great player at domestic level. Never quite nails test rugby.

Are you being triggered again?

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Hellhound 1 hour ago

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Jackal 1 hour ago

Test hooker identifies 'almost that All Blacks aura of old' in French sweep

I honestly don’t understand the point you are trying to make here. He simply provided a view point on a show he is a showrunner of and his statements have been used as quotes for this article. Why don’t you track those names down you mention yourself and call them for their direct views if its so important to you? Rugby “fans” truly are a weird breed at times

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Hellhound 1 hour ago

The stat in which the Springboks outperformed everyone fivefold in July

Definitely. Both teams want wins only, especially against each other. There will be a lot of pressure on Razor because no matter how good the AB's play, a 6-0 loss ratio against the Boks is not a good look, off which 4 losses would be his. That won't get him sacked yet. The boys will be going all out war in both tests. There will be a lot of blood and painful bodies after the games. I just hope there is no cards to spoil the games. Both teams want it very bad.

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Mzilikazi 1 hour ago

'The Wallabies need to convert much better - or Melbourne could be much worse'

Brett, I live in Qld ! Just N. of Toowoomba, strong rugby schools in the town.

I am actually a big believer in McReight…and his parents I’m told were from Belfast. Just for these games I see Tizzano as the better choice at 7 to start.

14 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 1 hour ago

Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

You’d like to think that WR are all over this but who knows.

56 Go to comments

GL 1 hour ago

Test hooker identifies 'almost that All Blacks aura of old' in French sweep

Oh I know who he is - that’s precisely my point… a two test all black, sure good talker but I rather have melanamu, hore, Coles, etc providing views. But if you prefer mouth flappers go for it

12 Go to comments

Jackal 2 hours ago

Test hooker identifies 'almost that All Blacks aura of old' in French sweep

Because he runs a very successful podcast show with Bryn Hall and Ross Karl, from where these quotes come from and in which he gives very insightful views & analysis on the current game and NZ Rugby in particular. Classic case of do some research before flapping your mouth here mate.