Eddie Jones has taught some of the top rugby players in the world over his career, having worked with them in Australia, England, and South Africa.
We’ve put together Eddie Jones’ dream team of players based on the players he’s heaped the most admiration on, based on multiple interviews with various sources throughout the years.
Beauden Barrett
Jones said:
“In England there has been much criticism of me coaching Suntory, and working with Beauden. But for me the best thing is that Beauden, one of the world’s great rugby players, is comfortable enough in himself, as I am in myself, to talk about the game so openly.
“We’re not trying to take anything away from each other. We’re trying to help each other and to just share our love of the game. Winning matters hugely, but I want the game of rugby to grow and to be truly great.”
Tom Curry
Jones said:
“Tom leads by example and he reminds me of a young Richie McCaw, who was able to lead by example. As he progresses there will be other bits and pieces of his captaincy that grow. But at the start of his career, it’s all about leading by example and getting the team on to the front foot. He just keeps getting better and better. You forget that he’s only 23. He’s already one of the best players I’ve worked with.”
Maro Itoje
Jones said:
“When Maro Itoje burst onto the scene you could have come from Mars and still been able to tell that he was going to be a special player. You didn’t need any deep rugby knowledge or foresight to predict an outstanding career for him if he stayed on track.”
George Smith
Jones said:
“If I had to pick out three players who improved consistently throughout their Test careers, the first name would be easy. George Smith went onto become a world-class player.
“How Australia let him go at 28, it’s a crime. Can you imagine if New Zealand let Richie McCaw go at 28? It’s just ridiculous. He should be the most capped player for Australia and he should be remembered as an all-time great. It’s one of the great sins of Australian rugby.”
“I’ve never seen a kid who can play the game as much as he can. He was an 18-year-old playing for Manly in his first first-grade game and I remember Ewen McKenzie and I sat there and watched the video. We had him signed by the Wednesday of the next week. He was that good. He could read the game, he had attacking skills, he had defensive skills, he was just a terrific player.”
