World Cup Is Already On The Radar Of England Coach Eddie Jones

World Cup Is Already On The Radar Of England Coach Eddie Jones
09:55, 28 Nov 2017

Since Eddie Jones was appointed as England coach, he has won 22 of his 23 Test matches in charge.

That argues a degree of consistency, to put it mildly, but for the Red Rose the real test will come at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Could England reclaim the title they won in Australia in 2003 when beating the Wallabies in such dramatic fashion?

That remains to be seen, but there can be no denying that Jones is presiding over a genuine renaissance of English rugby union.

The Australian took the reins at Twickenham after Stuart Lancaster was dumped in the wake of the 2015 World Cup disaster.

He has breathed so much new life into the whole England set-up and his record has to be applauded.

Since Jones took charge two years ago, England have been on a roll — claiming landmark achievements with staggering regularity.

The feats have included a world-record-equalling run of 18 Test wins, a first Grand Slam since 2003, a first Six Nations title since 2011, a series whitewash of the Wallabies in Australia and a first victory against South Africa for a decade.

Jones' men have tasted defeat only once when a Grand Slam was denied by Ireland in March.

On Monday, Jones was named World Rugby's coach of the year, further underlining his status as world-class leader.

Jones' England won a second successive Six Nations title in 2017, before an unbeaten summer tour of Argentina and three wins out of three this autumn.

The Australian, 57, is the first England coach to win the award since Sir Clive Woodward in 2003.

Jones is now targeting Six Nations success but the 2019 World Cup is gradually creeping into focus.

He said: “We don’t need to be at our best until the seventh game of the World Cup.

“We need to be sharp at the first game of the World Cup. You have got to remember, everything we do is geared towards the first game of the World Cup.

 “Having experienced it with South Africa in 2007, they lost three of their four Tri-Nations games before the World Cup and then they had an unbelievably good preparation and were at their best for the World Cup.

“The only time you need to be at your best is at the World Cup.”

Between now and Japan, Jones will narrow down his squad to a final 31-man group and the autumn internationals have helped him to form opinions on a few players.

Jamie George showed against Samoa that he can be a useful deputy for Dylan Hartley, Alex Lozowski flourished as a playmaker and Henry Slade seemed far more comfortable at outside centre.

But elsewhere, plenty of positions and squad places remain up for grabs.

Jones added: “You don't want to find these things out in the 60th minute of the game against Tonga in Kobe [in the World Cup opener], that some players aren't up to it.

“My job is selection and that’s all I do. All the coaching is done by the players and the other coaches.

“All I’ve got to do is select and that’s the job I’ve got to do. If I’m not down that road then the RFU should sack me.”

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