Eddie puts snarl back into English rugby

20 June 2016 - 09:52 By STEVE JAMES

Eddie Jones, the man the Stormers hoped would work miracles at Newlands, has done it for England - and he achieved it away from Fortress Twickenham on Saturday. With their 23-7 win over the Wallabies in Melbourne, Jones has not only taken England to a series win over Australia but he has also transformed a team from embarrassing flops at their own Rugby World Cup to winning eight Tests on the trot, encompassing a first Grand Slam since 2003 and a first series victory in Australia, indeed a first series win in any of the big three southern hemisphere countries.Those are the bare facts, and in this moment of dizzy success after one of the greatest defensive displays witnessed in Test rugby, it is hard not to be sensational.Indeed, when asked to name England rugby's 10 greatest moments of all time, I put this win at No3 behind the 2003 World Cup triumph and the two victories on the short tour of New Zealand and Australia before that tournament.We must first say that England were not as poor as everyone made out at the World Cup last year and that they were always going to be on a steep upward curve after it.So what has Jones done so right? He has brought a winning mentality, for a start. Armed with a simple game plan, England have been winning matches mentally as much as physically.But Jones has also put the snarl back into the English game.Of course, all of it is easier when you are winning, and England have done nothing but that under Jones so far.No doubt his methods will be examined more critically when the defeats come, but for now he can do no wrong. He can clearly be ranked among the finest coaches. ©The Daily Telegraph..

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