Eddie Jones will not compromise what he knows of the Wallabies’ inner workings to the advantage of fierce Rugby World Cup rivals South Africa, Springboks coach Jake White said on Sunday.
The defection of Jones, Australia’s 2003 World Cup coach, to the Springbok coaching ranks has rankled the Wallabies, with coach John Connolly particularly damning of his predecessor’s decision to switch camps.
But White, who is using Jones as a consultant at the tournament, says the former Wallaby coach is a huge positive for him and the Springbok team.
Tensions are certain to rachet up should Australia and South Africa, on opposite sides of the draw, win through to the October 20 final in Paris.
White, a master at mind-games before crucial Test matches, is adamant Jones, who has been given time off as director of rugby at English club Saracens to help the Springboks, will not be feeding the South African team privileged information on the Wallabies.
”He’s been fantastic. He’s professional to the bone, he never ever compromises anything on Australia and I really appreciate that about him,” White said on Sunday.
”He’s never unprofessional about the country he comes from, there’s no animosity, there’s no ill-feeling. He’s a professional rugby coach and he’s professional to the last letter of the law.”
White, who will have his 50th consecutive Test in charge of the Springboks against United States here on Sunday, said Connolly’s feelings were understandable.
”It’s natural. Let’s be quite honest, John Connolly now knows that we’ve got the same guy who’s coached the same players he’s coaching,” White said.
”That’s like me going to coach England or the All Blacks now. These [Springbok] players here would say, ‘Jake, what the hell are you doing?’.
”I can understand that, it’s a very natural thing, but as Eddie says Graham Henry coached Wales, Steve Hansen coached Wales, they know the Welsh players backwards.
”John Connolly coached in Bath, so he knows some of the English players. It’s probably a little bit more difficult for Australia in that Eddie has been in that system for so much longer and has worked with those players, not only with the Wallabies, but at the ACT Brumbies.
”I can understand that John is a bit frustrated in that, it’s probably not the right time.
”But Australia could have used Eddie, he was at the Queensland Reds, he was contracted by the ARU at the Reds, so someone could have said ‘the World Cup, do you mind staying on and helping us?’
”It’s a huge positive for us. He’s just for me, a confidant, he’s an ear-piece and I can just bounce ideas off him.
”I’m not saying he always agrees with me, but the nice thing is that he gives me confidence on the basis that he’s been there and understands it.”
Jones has been credited with adding sharpness to the Springboks’ backs with improved running lines and safer handling at the World Cup where South Africa will take on Fiji in the quarterfinals in Marseille next Sunday.
Observers have pointed to the improvement in flyhalf Butch James as staggering.
”Look at the way Butch played against England. It was his best performance in a Springbok jersey, and I think a lot of that is due to Eddie’s influence,” White said.
”He’s spent a lot of time with the halfbacks and has talked to them about positioning and understanding each other and the match situation.
”[Scrumhalf] Fourie du Preez is an even better player now, but so are the other guys. Everyone is learning.” – AFP
