'He is a mastermind': White wants dinner with Eddie
SPOTLIGHT: Hailing him the king of mind games, coach Eddie Jones has an open invitation to dinner with Wallabies scrumhalf Nic White during England’s three-Test tour next month.
After England’s lean Six Nations and an embarrassing performance against the Barbarians last weekend, Jones is already on the front foot as he looks to stretch his winning record over Australia beyond eight straight.
On naming his touring squad, Jones has warned of the “abusive crowds” in Australia and “aggressive media”.
While fiesty veteran White loves to spar on and off the field, he insists he’s not in the same league as master coach Jones but would like the chance to learn from the best.
He’s familiar with Jones’ verbal sideshow after he talked up White’s form prior to their Twickenham Test last year.
“If there’s one guy I definitely won’t be getting into battle with it’s Eddie Jones,” White said on Thursday.
“But you know when they ask that question of who you’d love to have dinner with, he pops to mind straight away.
“I’d love to pick his brain, he’s obviously a mastermind.”
The Brumbies No.9 said Jones wasn’t entirely wrong, expecting the Wallabies and their fans to get up for the series which starts in Perth on July 2.
“The Aussie versus England rivalry is huge and yeah, we will be up for this series and hopefully be dragging all of Australia along with us.
“We’ll get out there to Perth and it will be packed to the rafters full of gold and hopefully he’s right, hopefully we are very vocal over there and we give them something to cheer about.”
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— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) June 22, 2022
White, 32, is looking forward to duelling with another halfback veteran after Danny Care was recalled to the England squad for the first time since falling out with Jones in late 2018.
The Wallabies ace said he wasn’t surprised Care was back, only that it had taken so long given what the 35-year-old still had to offer.
“His form over the last while has been phenomenal … he’s been great for Harlequins, he’s just a maverick,” White said.
“What to expect with Danny, expect the unexpected.
“He’s got a running game, he’s got a short kicking game, he can control a game, he’s bloody quick to the breakdown, loves to play really quick and we’re going to have to be on our toes.”
While he rated emerging scrumhalf Harry Randall, White said it “made sense” for England to play clubmates Care and Marcus White in the halves.
“Marcus Smith’s come on leaps and bounds maturing as a player, and to have a guy there inside him that he’s super comfortable with that probably makes a lot of sense.”
