Dan Carter backs ‘fantastic coach’ Eddie Jones to revamp England in a hurry
All Blacks great Dan Carter gave Eddie Jones the thumbs-up for his revamp of England on Friday, as the new coach prepared for his first game in charge in the Six Nations.
All Blacks great Dan Carter gave Eddie Jones the thumbs-up for his revamp of England on Friday, as the new coach prepared for his first game in charge in the Six Nations.
The world player of the year, speaking in Hong Kong ahead of the Hong Kong Rugby Union's Natixis Cup where he will play for France's Racing 92 against New Zealand's Highlanders, said England had exciting times ahead under Jones.
“It’s an exciting time for England rugby with Eddie Jones taking over,” Carter told AFP in an interview before Saturday’s game at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground in Hong Kong.
A few [northern hemisphere teams] will be pretty disappointed with the results in the World Cup and … a lot are wanting to prove themselves
“They’ll be extremely disappointed with the way they performed at the World Cup and there’ll be some pretty high expectations of the England side and the fact that they need to improve so it’s going to make for a very interesting Six Nations.
“He’s a fantastic coach and I’m sure he’ll do well.”
Just hours after the north versus south clash in Hong Kong, Jones will unveil his new-look England, captained by hooker Dylan Hartley, in their Six Nations opener against Scotland.
England opted for their first foreign coach after the heartbreak of last year’s World Cup, when they became the first host nation to bomb out in the group stages.
Despite the disappointing performance of the northern hemisphere sides, none of whom progressed beyond the quarter-finals, Carter, who lifted the trophy with New Zealand, said the gap with southern rugby was closing.
