The Australian’s first match will be against Scotland in next year’s Six Nations.
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Jones was on Friday confirmed as the new England coach on a four-year contract.
“The opportunity to take the reins in possibly the world’s most high profile global rugby job doesn’t come along every day, and I feel fortunate to be given the opportunity”, Jones said in a RFU statement. We want those people who turn up at their local club on a Sunday morning to coach the kids to think that the England team is something with which they can associate and be proud of.
Springboks great Bakkies Botha, a member of South Africa’s 2007 World Cup-winning side, believes Jones would prove a shrewd appointment.
“England have won two of the last three under-20s World Cups so there’s great talent out there”.
“In terms of the coaching staff, I will assess the staff that have been here and if they can offer what I want then I will keep them on”, said the new England chief.
A number of touted replacements had already ruled themselves out of the running, including Cheika and Wales coach Warren Gatland, who masterminded a crucial win over England at Twickenham in September.
It is expected that all three will follow Lancaster out of the door as Jones brings in his own team. “He carries OK, he tackles OK, but he’s not outstandingly good in any area”.
The 55-year-old will be in place when England kick off their Six Nations campaign next February after the Rugby Football Union (RFU) agreed to a STG100,000 ($F329,306) compensation payout with his current team, the Stormers in South Africa, according to the Daily Express and Daily Telegraph.
Jones has said that whoever is chosen must be English, with a view to eventually taking over when he steps down after Japan 2019.
Now, the question remains: who will replace Eddie Jones as Stormers coach?
At the heart of any side is a captain, Eddie has previously quite heavily criticised Chris Robshaw and openly said that one of his first tasks will be to speak one on one with Chris.
“I’ll sit down with Chris and have a chat with him”, he said.
“I remain very grateful to WP Rugby for this opportunity and I would sincerely like to apologise to anyone that might have been affected by my sudden decision to leave Cape Town – the WPRFU Executive Committee, the WP Rugby Board of Directors, my fellow coaches, the players, the union’s stakeholders and The Faithful, all of whom have treated me so well in my short stay”.
“Over the next 6-8 weeks I will be watching games and working out a style of play we think will be effective”.
Eddie Jones is infused with the Australian belief in creative attacking rugby and it is nearly inconceivable that England’s backline will not improve under his tutelage.
“It all starts again now, you’ve got to remember that”, Jones added.
“I’d like to see an English influence in his coaching set-up”.
And former England and Lions coach Dick Best said: “This was inevitable because there has been no succession planning for England coaches”.
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He did say though that it was a “fundamental part of his job” over the next four years to develop English assistants capable of stepping up to the head coach role when he walks away “to watch cricket in Barbados”.
