Eddie Jones says he is more focused on his first season back as Australia coach than on whether Ian Foster or Scott Robertson are in charge of New Zealand.
The process of finding the next All Blacks head coach was thrown into turmoil after New Zealand Rugby rejected Robertson’s recent suggestion that an announcement was close.
‘Razor’ also referenced the fact he was lined up to take over the All Blacks coaching reins after some poor results in 2022, only for Foster to save his job when his team bounced back and beat the Springboks in Johannesburg during the Rugby Championship.
Jones, who was appointed the new Wallabies boss in January, has weighed in on the All Blacks coaching debate in a wide-ranging interview with Newstalk ZB, where he praised both Foster and Robertson but said he isn’t too bothered about the outcome.
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“That’s that great North Island/South Island and you’ve got to keep that going. I reckon that’s a great debate,” Jones said.
“Scott Robertson has been fantastic in Super Rugby, but as we all know, Super Rugby and Test rugby is different. Ian Foster has a fantastic record as the assistant coach of the All Blacks and he’s making that transition to head coach.
“I don’t care who is coaching. You might get Wayne Smith back, who knows.”
Despite the All Blacks’ inconsistent 2022 season that included eight wins, four losses and one draw to Jones’ former side England, the Australian said the Kiwis have developed well under Foster.
“There are [weaknesses]. Any team has weaknesses. No team is unbeatable and that’s the great thing about our game. I think what Fozzie did last year was outstanding, how he turned the team around. When they played us at Twickenham, I thought their first 20 to 30 minutes was absolutely brilliant.
“It was that old-style counter-punching, score quickly, shift the ball quickly to the extremities of the field and then play from there, which they did through attacking kicks against us.
While the drama around the All Blacks top job may not be of interest to Jones, he admitted New Zealand are very part of his 2023 preparations with the Wallabies.
“Beat New Zealand, mate. That’s the only thing,” Jones said when asked what is top of his mind being back Down Under. “It’s been 22 years since we won the Bledisloe Cup. For a two-team competition the law of averages isn’t right.
“We play New Zealand at Melbourne Cricket Ground. It’s the only ground in the world where Australia has a positive advantage in terms of wins and losses over New Zealand. So it’s a great way to kick off. So that’s all we’re thinking about at the moment.”
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