Jones tips Ireland to heap misery on Aussies
Friday November 06 2009
Ireland should add the scalp of the Australians to their Six Nations Grand Slam crown, according to former Wallaby coach Eddie Jones.
Jones, who is now coaching in Japan, watched the Wallabies slip to a seventh successive defeat at the hands of the All Blacks in Tokyo last weekend. He concedes he is "alarmed" by the present lowly state of Australian rugby and forecasts another difficult month for present coach Robbie Deans and his players.
"Ireland can definitely beat Australia," he said. "Unlike some of the northern hemisphere teams, they won't just have to play a kicking game; Ireland can play a bit of rugby, too. They have the backs to do it. If they can hold their own up front in the scrums and achieve line-out parity, they should have the edge.
Trouble
"They certainly have the players behind the scrum to trouble Australia."
Jones singles out Ireland as potential conquerors of the Wallabies because he says they should now kick on from their Grand Slam success of last season. Also, he has less faith in injury-hit England's readiness to take on and beat southern hemisphere opposition.
"I don't have a great deal of confidence in the way England are playing. In my view, they haven't got the balance right in their game, whereas Ireland have. England are either playing shots all over the place, or not playing any at all.
"In other words, there isn't great decision making in their team as to what is required in different circumstances, whereas Ireland have the players to alter their approach, to vary the way they play.
"It's all about reading what is in front of you. But I will be surprised if England don't just kick for position this weekend against the Wallabies, especially with Jonny Wilkinson back. That approach might bring some short-term success but it won't be a long-term philosophy because the key in the modern game is to have that balance.
"Teams need to develop different layers of attack but I don't know that England are capable of that.
"But I'm sure Ireland are, and that is where they are so good. They can play a strong kicking game and chase well, but they can also keep the ball in hand and attack well through that format equally successfully."
Jones said he would be surprised if Wales, like Ireland, are unable to adapt their game to differing situations. The Welsh, he felt, had tried to play "a little too much" at times. He expected them to redress that balance during this autumn series of internationals.
But the redoubtable Australian did suggest that Ireland may need to pay close attention to countering the growing threat of Wallaby loose-head prop Ben Robinson, who helped give the New Zealand scrum some hurry-up in the Tokyo Test last weekend.
"Admittedly, the New Zealand scrum has never been the same since Carl Hayman left for Newcastle. It is not a coincidence that since he arrived, Newcastle have gone from one of the softest scrums to one of the best in the Premiership.
"John Hayes could be exposed by a strong, squat loose-head like Robinson. But having said that, Ireland are smart and street-wise. They will scrum okay."
- Peter Bills
Irish Independent
