Eddie Jones enlists League great for 'physical' Boks
While Australian coach Eddie Jones is no stranger to picking the brains of Rugby League coaches and he has recruited Andrew Johns to work with the Wallaby team ahead of their season-opener against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Jones lured League great Andrew Johns to work with the Wallaby flyhalves ahead of next month’s Test against South Africa.
Fresh off his role in New South Wales’ defeat in the State of Origin series, League immortal Johns was at Sydney’s Coogee Oval on Friday, enlisted by Jones to bring an edge to the Wallabies’ attack.
Jones was instrumental in trying to lure Johns across to Rugby Union during his first tenure as Wallabies coach before it was knocked on the head by the Rugby Australia board.
Johns spent extended time with veteran playmaker Bernard Foley and young gun Carter Gordon.
But the wily coach, who is openly a Rugby League fan and has used a number of retired players as his assistants, never gave up on getting Johns on board.
“We’ve known Andrew a long time and his ability to teach the nuances of first-receiver play is second to none,” Jones said of Johns.
“To have him down here, particularly for a young guy like Carter [Gordon] is such a great learning experience.”
While the session was a one-off, Jones said he’d jump at the opportunity to “mix” codes again.
“If we feel that there’s someone from rugby league who can help us, I certainly don’t have any discrimination against the sport.”
Jones will on Sunday name his first squad since taking over the top job from Dave Rennie in January, with the Test in Pretoria against the Springboks on July 8.
(Article continues below the Eddie Jones interview …)
Jones also confirmed towering Western Force lock Izack Rodda wouldn’t be part of Australia’s World Cup campaign after re-injuring his foot.
It’s a blow for both the Wallabies and the 26-year-old, who was part of the 2019 tournament.
“That’s bad luck for him. He’s had a couple of foot injuries. He’s just re-aggravated it so unfortunately, he won’t participate in the World Cup,” Jones said.
Turning his attention to the opening Test, Jones said the next two weeks they will focus on what is required to win at Loftus on July 8.
“To beat South Africa, physically you have to be up for the challenge,” Jones told a media scrum.
“There is [also] the set piece contest, the aerial contest and the contest on the ground.
“It is a huge contest game against them.
“We have to win the contest.”
He also dismissed the notion that the Wallabies are at a disadvantage at altitude – Pretoria being nearly 1,400 metres above sea level.
“If we prepare well, we will win and that is our aim.”
* Additional reporting by AAP
Watch the entire Eddie Jones interview below …
