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PARIS - Eddie Jones admitted on Sunday that four years after he coached Australia to a heartbreaking defeat to England in the World Cup final he was aching to see his adopted country South Africa beat the English in next Saturday's final.
The 47-year-old - who is acting as a consultant to the South Africans - revealed that since the Wallabies lost to a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal in the last seconds of extra-time in Sydney his medal had taken on a different hue.
"I have a silver medal from 2003 and it is getting rusty - I want a new one and that one to be gold," said Jones, who was sacked as Wallabies coach last year after a disastrous run of results.
Jones, who is set to take up duties as director of rugby at English Premiership side Saracens, refused to talk specifically about England but it was clear he was desperate to avenge that defeat.
"It doesn't matter who the adversary is in a World Cup final," said the former hooker, who had a catastrophic time as coach of Super 14 side Queensland Reds last season where they won only two of their games.
"This really is it. There is nothing quite like the World Cup and to be in the final is extra special."
Jones, who was heavily criticised in Australia when he took up the post with the Springboks in August, was modest about what he had brought to the South Africans, who will be appearing in their second World Cup final having won in 1995.
"Have I brought style to the South Africans? I don't need to bring them style as they already had it," said Jones, who is the son of a Japanese mother and an Australian father.
However, for South Africa coach Jake White there was no doubt what Jones brought to the side and was blunt when asked why Australia had gone out in the quarter-finals to England.
"He's (Jones) standing in our changing room downstairs," said 43-yuear-old White.
"He is an astute student of the game, and has an unbelievable work ethic.
"I know what Eddie means to us because he was also in the 2003 final.
"It is invaluable to have a guy giving you such feedback.
"Because he can be a real sounding board from the captain to the medical staff."
White said that South Africa's gain had been Australia's pain as if he had been kept in his post with the Wallabies then they might have gone further.
"One thing he (Jones) did say was there is a shortcoming with prop forwards in Australia," said White, who himself nearly lost his job in November last year when he was recalled from the autumn tour of the northern hemisphere but was saved when the 'Boks beat England in the second of two tests at Twickenham.
"It is indicative of what he's been asking for for the past couple of years.
"Maybe it was a wake-up call last Saturday (October 6) against the English.
"I don't know if he would have changed it but perhaps if they (the Australian Rugby Union) had listened to him they would have put measures into place which could have set them on the right track."
White's praise for Jones has been echoed even by members of the England team, with South African-born veteran centre Mike Catt particularly impressed in the manner that Springbok fly-half Butch James has progressed since the Australian joined up.
"Butch, with Eddie Jones there, is playing a lot like Australia did when Eddie was involved," said Catt prior to England's record 36-0 World Cup defeat at the hands of the Springboks in the pool stage.
"His size and his strength help the way they want to play. He's developed as a player massively. His kicking game is good and he's making the right decisions."
- AFP
