Jones boasts new Saracens strategy
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:47
Former Wallaby coach and Saracens' new boss Eddie Jones plans to turn Vicarage Road into a hotbed of English talent, with players and coaches alike.
The former Australian coach, who also helped mastermind South Africa's Rugby World Cup final victory last year, is backing his English coaching talent to turn the club and its players into Europe's finest.
"Not only do we want to produce good English players, we want to produce good English coaches. I see that as one of my major responsibilities," said Jones.
"Alex Sanderson has done a good two-year apprenticeship and is ready to step up. Paul Gustard comes in as skills coach; he's bright, enthusiastic, hard working and analytical so he fits the bill.
"And then you've got Richard Hill who'll spend half his time mentoring our young players - we're very keen to bring as many good young players through as we can - and half the time earning a few bob for the place.
"Over the next four or five years I'd like to see some of these assistant coaches become head coaches, either here or at other organizations in England. Then we'll be doing our part as an English club," Jones added.
Having watched the Southern Hemisphere teams dominate their northern rivals in this summer' s Test matches, Jones believes that the home nations have ground to make up in several areas.
"Tactically and physically, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa looked much better sides," he said.
"Although England were physical and aggressive and got stuck in, they looked limited in the way they used the ball, and it was the same with Wales."
One of the newcomers hoping to help take England to the next level is Leicester Tigers and England Saxons No.8 Jordan Crane.
Crane's elevation to England' s 2008/9 Elite Player Squad came just days after the 22-year-old helped England Saxons to defend the Churchill Cup with a series of performances that earned him the tournament's Most Valuable Player award.
"It's what I've been working towards," admitted a thrilled Crane.
"I'll be pushing myself hard anyway but perhaps even harder now.
"Getting in any England side is going to be tough, especially at back row. But I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get myself in the side.
"One of the reasons I came to Leicester is because of the competitive back row. You can only learn off these sorts of players and that's definitely done me well."
Having returned from Saxons duty at the end of last month and taken a well earned break, he's eager to get back into action.
"I've had three weeks off chilling, now I'm ready to get myself in the best possible shape for Leicester and hopefully England," Crane added.
