All Blacks legend Kieran Read says the Eddie Jones Wallabies are a “scary proposition” although he doesn’t see them winning big games at this year’s Rugby World Cup.
Read, the former All Blacks captain and a two-time World Cup winner, knows first hand what Jones can achieve – losing to his England side in the 2019 semi-finals in Japan.
That shock World Cup loss ended Read’s illustrious career and he reminded New Zealand viewers of the threat on The Breakdown, which can be streamed on Stan Sport.
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Jones also masterminded Australia’s 2003 World Cup semi-finals upset of the All Blacks.
“It’s a scary proposition. He is a world renowned coach at international level. What he did with England when he first took over them, they didn’t lose for 16 (17) games, so he has that immediate impact,” Read said.
“That could certainly revive a bit of what Australia can do. I don’t see them going on and winning big games in a World Cup, but he will have an impact on them.”
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Former New Zealand sevens star Karl Te Nana also believed Jones would get immediate improvement out of a team ranked seventh in the world – four spots below the All Blacks.
“Everywhere he’s gone to, the next 12-16 months he’s improved the teams that he’s gone to, and we know he goes alright at a World Cup,” Te Nana said.
“I’m scared because these Aussies have already shown us that when they get it right… in Melbourne (last year), they should have tipped us up, let’s be honest. I’ll be interested because Eddie is old school, and it’ll be interesting to see how these newer players in Australia adapt or react to Eddie’s ways.”
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Because of the World Cup, the Bledisloe Cup will be contested over just two Tests this year, in Melbourne and Dunedin.
Jones has already dared to dream of lifting the prized silverware in Dunedin, as he did in his previous stint with the Wallabies way back in 2001.
Sir John Kirwan was also wary of the canny coach – who replaced him as Japan boss in 2012 – but questioned the level of Australia’s player pool.
“They will play to their maximum, but I don’t know if they’ve got the cattle,” Kirwan said.
“He got a standing ovation when he walked in (at Allianz Stadium last weekend), he’s the biggest superstar over there. They love him. Eddie and I go way back, he will not leave one stone unturned and he will have that team fizzing.
“He doesn’t need any injuries, and he’ll probably find a couple of league players or a couple of passports around the place, and he’ll try and make the strongest team possible.”
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