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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:35
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Eddie's thoughts on the international oppo:
"England will be smarter in attack, New Zealand more tactically adept, while South Africa "will go back to their roots".
The Wallaby head said England's recruitment of former league international Joe Lydon to their coaching staff would revitalise their attacking play.
"We'll see something a little bit different in their attack," Jones said. "Their attack has recently been pretty ordinary. But they've put on a new coach - Joe Lydon - a very, very good rugby league player. He'll introduce a bit more structure in their attack.
"They did have a very structured attack but it eventually became unstructured, and because of that, [they] lost the ability to use their skill. Lydon will bring in a structure which will allow them to use their skills."
Jones thought England were currently "struggling with success" but that their standards should not slip.
"They're really set up to continue being a champion side. We cannot underestimate that," he said. "They have a well-developed high performance unit, while they have agreements with all major clubs to ensure their players are on yearly programs.
"England also have great depth in resources. For instance, in the tight-head prop position, Australia has one guy [Al Baxter] who has played Test rugby. We have another couple of guys who are in their first year of Super 12.
"In contrast, England have six or seven players who at any stage could go into the Test side."
The All Blacks will be "completely different", with Jones describing new coach Graham Henry as "tactically one of the best".
"He'll have the side playing very much like Auckland did in 2003," Jones said. "They'll have a very robust, aggressive defence and an attack able to use turnover ball and counterattack. They'll be much better tactically than they have been in the past."
Jones has not forgotten that Henry was part of the Auckland coaching staff last year when the Blues won the Super 12 title.
The Springboks, meanwhile, will "pick an absolute monster pack, genuine second-rowers who can jump, and guys in the back row all about 106-110 kilograms who can run like the wind".
"They'll pick a nine and 10 who can control the game, and two centres who want to bash everything that gets in their way.
"Their 11, 14 and 15 will be absolute flyers. They'll use counterattack ball, not dissimilar to New Zealand."
Presumably Eddie thought Les Grenouilles were already perfect and therefore beyond comment.
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Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy
Jan 1970
time: 06:35
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Chiefs 29 -d- Stormers 14
So the Chiefs keep their finals hopes alive. Big effort from them, particularly as undermanned as they were. The Stormers reverted to their ways of old - scrappy, mishandling, et al. Oddly enough, as badly as they played, they could probably have won the match if they hadn't coughed up the ball so often in great attacking positions.
It's also bound to be Corne Krige's last ever S12 match. Old habits die hard. A ruck had degenerated into a mass of bodies. Corne dived in, apparently to shift a Chiefs player off a Stormer. He twice head butted the Chiefs player. Two separate, quite deliberate head butts. He's bound to be cited. And, as I think this is his last season, it should be his last ever match. A great player, tragically flawed. Such a shame.
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All times are GMT. The time now is 05:35.
Apolyton Time is 00:35. |
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21-04-2004 20:41
I often hold meetings with myself and I can assure you they're never boring. 
Canadian baby seals, shortly before their skulls are pulverised by baseball bats, are heard to utter a plaintive "arf".
Though I am not sure this is something to do with a client... 
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