Eddie Jones finally says what he really thinks about ‘deceitful’ Sir Clive Woodward
Eddie Jones has provided a withering assessment of Sir Clive Woodward as he opened up on why the relationship between the two became strained.
Woodward developed a strong dislike for the Australian coach during the 63-year-old’s tenure as England’s coach, particularly after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Aside from the possible justification that the Red Rose performances declined following the world competition, Jones believed there was another reason behind his persistent criticism.
Woodward wanting England job
“He hasn’t coached since 2005 and he’s the ‘world’s best coach.’ You’re the world’s best coach when you don’t coach. What’s the old thing, the man in the arena?” he told James Graham’s The Bye Round podcast.
“He’s consistently criticising. We had a bit of a thing when we were England and Australia coach, but his great gripe is that he wanted to be director of rugby at England.
“He never obtained the job that he wanted, which was to oversee it. He launched an internal campaign with the RFU to assume that role following the World Cup in 2019, and he did it behind my back. I found this to be quite cunning and dishonest.
The former director of Wallabies talked about why Woodward was so direct in his criticism of Jones’ England on the Simon Jordan podcast.
Two weeks prior, Jones had declared his opinion that the 2003 Rugby World Cup champion was “quite disrespectful” in light of 2019; nevertheless, the 63-year-old’s sentiments became even more evident after a conversation with rugby league great Graham.
Made it personal
“Every time since, if he says something, I really don’t value his thoughts at all and I don’t like him as a bloke. Because he was so deceitful,” Jones said on The Bye Round.
“I don’t mind that most guys in our sport prefer to talk face-to-face. We can have a discussion about it if someone expresses a different viewpoint.
“But I thought it was a bit hot when people started doing things behind your back, especially with the power he had in the media.”By putting in all that work behind the scenes, he personalized it. He will vigorously refute it. But I usually find it a little depressing.
“When I do stop coaching, I hope not to turn into one of those guys who thinks he knows everything and says, ‘He should have done this, he should have made this change.'”
Being a pundit is all about hindsight, coaching and playing are all about foresight, and being a pundit is all about hindsight and you’re always right.”
