Jones runs the rule over 6N coaches
Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:37
Outspoken: Former Aussie coach Eddie Jones gives his view
As the dust has settled on an Six Nations tournament that saw one coach guide his team to a Grand Slam and another lose his job, Total Rugby turned to former Wallaby coach Eddie Jones, a member of South Africa's victorious coaching team during the World Cup, to assess the progress of all six coaches in his own indomitable style.
First up for the Jones' assessment was Italy's new coach Nick Mallett…
"Eddie Jones: I think Nick's done a pretty good job there. I think just in terms of the backs I think they need to change their alignment a little bit, they still play like a very traditional Italian side, very wide and deep and that in fact nullifies the advantage of the Italian side gets going forward. There were reports of him shedding a few tears which is very Italian, so he's embraced the culture. I think in that way he'll get a lot of good results out of this Italian team.
"Nick, I'd give a C+ ... he's worked pretty hard throughout the tournament."
Moving on to Scotland coach Frank Hadden…
"EJ: What Frank has done is he's come in when Scotland were in a very poor state and he's brought stability, but I think the big test is whether he can move the side on. I think they perhaps need to go back into the past to go into the future and become a bit more inventive and a bit more cunning and take a little bit more risk in terms of their play.
"Frank, I'd give a C- ... needs to get a little bit of adventure in his play."
And what of Ireland's now departed coach Eddie O'Sullivan?
"EJ: I think he's done a great job Eddie, but I think every coach has a certain number of years and for some coaches it might be 25 years like Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, but at international rugby I think it's hard to go past the time of four or five years because you've had the players for what are very intense period of time.
"Eddie … I'd give a D."
Next up for assessment was France's new coach Marc Lièvremont…
"EJ: Well I guess Marc kept everyone guessing didn't he, but I think what he tried to do is just widen the net. He wanted to see how many of these young players are possibly ready for Test rugby. As a young coach he's trying to find the balance between attacking play and playing field position and getting a good set piece and I think this Six Nations for him has been very instructive and they've probably learnt more about themselves than a number of other teams in this tournament.
"Marc, a B+ ... the most promising student in the class!"
Moving across the Channel to England's Brian Ashton…
"EJ: I think Brian's done a reasonable job. I think there's probably been some selections you could certainly query, particularly in the back three with Balshaw and Vainikolo and whether they are ever going to be genuine Test players. I think what they need to do in English rugby is to get the right structure in place.
"Brian, a B- ... he's been at the front of the class and at the back of the class."
And finally what of Grand Slam winner Warren Gatland?
"EJ: Well I think the interesting thing with Warren's selection is that it's not much different to what they had in the World Cup, but I think what he has managed to do is create a very good squad mentality. I think one of the players mentioned that a key thing was that Warren and Shaun [Edwards] have brought clarity. People know what they're supposed to do, know what they can't do and if you don't do the things you're supposed to do you won't be in the squad and they're doing them.
"Warren an A* ... your mother's going to be happy!"
