Jones vows to make England number one

Wed, May 11, 2016, 2:30 AM
AAP
by AAP
Number one or nothing. Australian and England Coach, Eddie Jones. Photo: Getty Imgaes.
Number one or nothing. Australian and England Coach, Eddie Jones. Photo: Getty Imgaes.

Former Wallabies mentor Eddie Jones says he'll be a failure if he cannot turn England into the best team in world rugby.

The England head coach cites the three-Test summer tour to Australia as the next step on that quest, with glory at World Cup 2019 in Japan the ultimate prize.

Jones expects a feisty reception from his compatriots, and will order England to target Wallabies stars Israel Folau, David Pocock and Michael Hooper, and legally "take them out of the game."

Jones hailed former Brisbane, South Sydney and Queensland rugby league start Ben Te'o as a "demi-god" in Australia, backing him to succeed where Sam Burgess failed in crossing codes to union.

Asked if he would consider his tenure a failure if he does not take England to number one in the world rankings, Jones replied: "Oh 100 per cent. The reason the RFU appointed me is to change the England national team.

"And the resources and the number of players we have here, demands that England should be number one in the world.

 

A photo posted by rugby.com.au (@rugbycomau) on

 

"If I look at England and what we have, there's no reason we shouldn't be number one in the world and that's what we're working towards."

"It's all set up for England to do well in Japan (at World Cup 2019).

"Ben Te'o's definitely a possibility. You speak to people in Australia and they talk of him as a demi-god, so those sorts of players if they have the right attitude can come across to rugby and have an immediate impact.

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