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Tim Noonan

One week after England coach Eddie Jones told the world no one was giving his team a chance to beat New Zealand in the World Cup semi-finals, he was back at it again.
Only this time, he had the air of the hunted, as opposed to the hunter. “The players understand they haven’t done anything yet,” he said in Tokyo, two days after his side administered a thorough and clinical beating on the vaunted All Blacks 19-7.
England are set to play South Africa on Saturday in Yokohama in their first final appearance since 2003, and for Jones, everything is in front of them. “The most important week is coming up,” he said. “We’re excited to be here and excited about what the team can achieve this week.”
Jones was delighted to hear talk from the players that they had “emptied their tank” during the big win at the weekend. “That’s one of the most satisfying things I heard because that’s what we want our players to do, empty the tank,” he said. “That’s how they should feel at the end of the game, absolutely exhausted.”

He also alluded to how his players have gleefully taken to onsens, Japanese hot spring baths, in droves. “It's a great way of recovering,” he said. “You know you think about how smart the Japanese are, 150 years ago each village had its own onsen and it was perfect recovery. Hot, cold, you had some social direction so you were relaxed. It’s perfect so our players are better today than they were last week.”
Last week, Jones claimed that because Japan’s second team are the All Blacks, all the pressure was on them to satisfy their 120 million fans here. But when asked where the country’s allegiance would be for the final, he claimed he wasn't sure. “All I know is that we’re excited about the prospects,” he said. “We know the final comes with pressure but we’re excited about handling that and we feel that’s an advantage we’ve got.”


Jones, who was taking notes in the crowd at the semi-final on Sunday when South Africa beat Wales 19-16, was asked what he thought of the match. “The only thing we are worried about is how the Springboks turn up this Saturday,” he said.
“When you are in the final of a World Cup you have done a lot of things right and they are a massively aggressive, physical forward pack. They are going to be a difficult side to beat. We know they can play differently, we are aware of that. But we also know that they are going to come through the front door. There’s not too many Springbok teams you play against that don't come through the front door.”
He also believed the best of his team was still in front of them and that they could most definitely improve on their performance against New Zealand. “A hundred per cent,” he said. “Look, we played a great team on Saturday, but we don't feel we have played as well as we can, and the challenge is to keep improving. We will see how we can keep improving for this game and that’s the exciting part for us.”

When told interest in the team back home was through the roof and that every flight to Japan from England was now overbooked, Jones was clearly pleased. “I think it's great that you give the country something to cheer about,” he said. “With Brexit at the moment, they probably need something to cheer about. It’s the job of the team to make the country happy.”
Having led Australia to the final of the 2003 World Cup as well as engineered Japan’s huge upset over South Africa in 2015 and now England’s heroic win over the All Blacks, Jones’ legacy as one of the greatest modern big-game coaches in rugby is secure.
But still, a victory in the final would leave him with few coaching peers and, luckily, he has a wealth of experience to call on. “It’s always in the final about doing less,” he said. “We’re at the end of a seven-week tournament now so it’s about just focusing on what is going to have a significant part of the game. It's not about doing everything; it's about doing certain things right.”

Jones was joined on the podium by bemused England scrum half Ben Youngs, and it was clear from the outset that the outspoken, straight-shooting coach takes the pressure of his players by deftly absorbing the media’s focus. When told that Wales coach Warren Gatland had said England may have played their best game already and that team’s don’t always get up for a final, Jones could not resist being Jones one last time. “Guys can you just send my best wishes to Warren,” he said. “And make sure he enjoys the third and fourth place play-off.”


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Rugby World Cup 2019

‘Our players understand they haven’t done anything yet’: England coach Eddie Jones coy before Rugby World Cup final against South Africa

England coach Eddie Jones has crafted win after win for his squads on the grandest of stages. Photo: AP

Owen Farrell of England (C) lines up among teammates as New Zealand players perform Haka during the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between England and New Zealand at International Stadium Yokohama in Kanagawa, Japan on October 26, 2019. (Photo by AFLO)

England coach Eddie Jones walks into a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, Monday, Oct. 28, 2019. England will play South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday Ov. 2. in Yokohama. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

epaselect epa07950429 England's Ben Youngs (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a disallowed try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 semi final match between New Zealand and England at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama City, Japan, 26 October 2019. EPA-EFE/FRANCK ROBICHON EDITORIAL USE ONLY/ NO COMMERCIAL SALES / NOT USED IN ASSOCATION WITH ANY COMMERCIAL ENTITY

Rugby World Cup: South Africa edge Wales in semi-final thriller in Yokohama

South Africa’s centre Damian De Allende (centre) scores a try during the Rugby World Cup semi-final match against Wales. Photo: AFP

Rugby World Cup: Wales looking for historic victory to cement their place among game’s royalty

Prince Charles shares a moment with Wales head coach Warren Gatland (left) and captain Alun Wyn Jones (right). Photo: AP

Britain's Prince Charles poses with the Wales rugby team members during their training session ahead of Rugby World Cup semi-final match against South Africa at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo, Japan October 23, 2019, in this photo released by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. JAPAN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN JAPAN.

Never mind a New Zealand three-peat – Rugby World Cup needs a shock of the new

New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett will be a marked man in their semi-final against England. Photo: Kyodo

England's coach Eddie Jones attends a training session in Oita, Japan, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. England will face Australia in the quarterfinals at the Rugby World Cup on Oct. 19. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

In this Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, file photo, South Africa's Faf de Klerk runs to score a try during the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match at Tokyo Stadium between Japan and South Africa in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - England Captain's Run - International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan, October 25, 2019 - England's Owen Farrell talks to his team mates training. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

Wales' head coach Warren Gatland attends a training session at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama on October 25, 2019, ahead of the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match against South Africa. (Photo by Odd Andersen / AFP)

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Rugby


The English boss is once again keeping the heat off his players with his cryptic but entertaining press conferences
The legendary coach is one win away from another historic match at the helm



The English boss is once again keeping the heat off his players with his cryptic but entertaining press conferences.


New Zealand

Japan

South Africa

Australia

‘Our players understand they haven’t done anything yet’: England coach Eddie Jones coy before Rugby World Cup final against South Africa

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} The English boss is once again keeping the heat off his players with his cryptic but entertaining press conferences The legendary coach is one win away from another historic match at the helm

The English boss is once again keeping the heat off his players with his cryptic but entertaining press conferences

The legendary coach is one win away from another historic match at the helm