George Gregan smiles when asked about Eddie Jones’s reputation as a workaholic and the most demanding of coaches. The 139-cap scrum-half, who spent a decade working under Jones with the Brumbies and Australia, captaining the Wallabies at the 2003 World Cup, recalls that the players called the then Australia assistant coach Ewen McKenzie “Moth” – attracted to a flame that never burned out.
“I think Eddie has mellowed,” says Gregan, now an HSBC rugby ambassador. “It was different when he was younger and he is like green tea compared to how he was then. He is not renowned for sleeping eight hours a night and we used to joke that the only time he slept was after a plane took off.
“He is an incredible worker and the 5am starts for the England players are typical, but while he is direct, people do respond to him. He has a track record of making players better and that is down to the way he coaches. I was not surprised that he took the England job because coaches are like players: they want to be involved at the highest level and Eddie loves the World Cup.”
Jones is one of the game’s great networkers, with contacts all over the world, regularly on the phone or picking brains over a coffee. Gregan met him during the World Cup, along with Glen Jackson and Rod Kafer, who had also played under Jones, and asked him about the rumours he had been approached by England.
“We met up for a coffee and although Eddie is a direct guy, when we asked him about England – Japan had just been knocked out of the World Cup – he became noncommittal, talking about great resources and an incredible player pool. He just loves coaching international teams and making good players better and he has a great thirst for knowledge. He improved me as a player and the environment he creates is all about getting better, no matter how many Test matches you have been involved in. It does not surprise me that players who endured a disappointing World Cup are better under his influence.”
Thirteen years ago Jones and Gregan were preparing for a home World Cup. The tournament was won by England, who defeated the Wallabies in the final at the end of extra time after two months of hostile media there. This time it is Jones who is on the receiving end of a barbed welcome, clearing customs in Brisbane on Thursday only after his bags had been rigorously searched.
“Everyone in Australia is excited about Eddie returning with England,” says Gregan. “He has thrown a few hand grenades already and he has got people talking about the three-Test series, which is sold out. Rugby is a hot topic again and the timing is perfect because it will allow our game to build on the gains we made in last year’s World Cup. The task for Australia is to become consistent and there is no point in either side looking ahead to the next World Cup. It is all about the here and now.”
Jones has made changing England’s style his priority, adding to set-piece prowess by developing a fluid attacking game based on what players see rather than what they have been coached to do. He has hired the former Australia full-back Glen Ella as a backs coach for the series to help with the heads-up approach.
“Glen and Eddie have a history of working together,” says Gregan. “Glen is good at getting players to play what is in front of them, focusing on decision-making, giving guys the flexibility and the confidence to move the ball and back their skillsets to find space. I would call him a feel rather than a super technical coach and he will give England a nice balance, promoting a positive attitude so that the ball will be moved when it is on. He will get players thinking about the game, when to run, kick or pass, and he will benefit England.
“The semi-finalists in last year’s World Cup were all proficient passers from the southern hemisphere and that is how the game has developed there. When I played, some of the boys who played in the front five would not have contemplated throwing a pass, but now they need to be able to and watching Glen pass the ball is an education in itself. It is a fundamental aspect that allows you to play better: rugby is about more than the set pieces and Eddie is changing England’s balance.”
Jones has described Saturday’s first Test in Brisbane as “massive”. Australia have not played since the World Cup final at the end of October, while England followed up a Six Nations grand slam by defeating Wales handsomely at Twickenham last month.
“The first Test of any series is crucial because it is tough for the home side,” says Gregan. “No matter what Australia say, there will be rust not having played together for so long. England will have the advantage of being more match-hardened and familiar with each other. I remember when Wales came here in 2012, the series was so tight that although the Wallabies won it 3-0, they only scored 11 more points than Wales across the three matches. I think this series will be as close with both sides coached by strong, demanding characters who both care for their players. It will be fascinating, and fun.”
