Advertisement

Totally committed: Eddie Jones vows he’ll be 100% behind England against the Wallabies

Eddie Jones has insisted there will be no conflict of loyalties when he coaches England against his native Australia for the first time next year.

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Eddie Jones poses for photographers on Friday at a Twickenham press conference to announce his appointment as the new head coach of England’s national team. Photos: AFP

Eddie Jones has insisted there will be no conflict of loyalties when he coaches England against his native Australia for the first time next year.

Advertisement

Jones was in charge of the Wallabies when they lost the 2003 World Cup final to England in Sydney.

But on Friday the 55-year-old became England’s new head coach after Stuart Lancaster stepped down following the team’s humiliating group stage exit at the Rugby World Cup.

Jones’ first match in charge of England will be their Six Nations opener away to Scotland on February 6, but June 2016 sees the Red Rose brigade travelling to Australia for a three-Test series against the Wallabies.

When you are playing against your own country, you feel something. But I can guarantee that when we get to that starting line, I’ll be 100 per cent committed to England
Eddie Jones

And the new coach, who enhanced his reputation at this year’s World Cup by guiding unheralded Japan to three wins, including a shock defeat of South Africa, told a Twickenham press conference Friday that he would relish the challenge.

Advertisement
Advertisement