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Rugby World Cup | Semi-Finals
Oct 26, 2019 at 9am UK
 
England
19-7
New Zealand
Tuilagi (2')
FT
Savea (57')

Eddie Jones confident England can beat 'best team in sports history' New Zealand

Eddie Jones confident England can beat 'best team in sports history' New Zealand
© Reuters
The head coach believes the All Blacks are the best team in world sport.

Eddie Jones has braced England to face the most dominant team in the history of sport but is convinced New Zealand can still be dethroned in Saturday's World Cup semi-final.

Jones points to the All Blacks' win percentage of 86 since lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy four years ago to support his view that they occupy a unique position despite competing in the Rugby Championship each year.

A 46-14 demolition of Ireland has set up a seismic showdown in Yokohama but Jones insists his quarter-final conquerors of Australia have the potential to seize greatness for themselves.

Eddie Jones is preparing England to face the team he calls the best in sport
Eddie Jones is preparing England to face the team he calls the best in sport (David Davies/PA)

"We have a challenge this week because we are playing the greatest team that has ever been in sport," said Jones.

"If you look at their record I don't think there's a team that comes close to them for sustainability. Since the last World Cup they've won a high percentage of their Tests.

"Name me another team in the world that plays at the absolute top level that wins so many of their games.

"They are playing in the toughest competition in the world against the best all the time. I just admire them. To do what they do from a small country is incredible.

England will be bidding to reach the World Cup final for the first time since 2007
England will be bidding to reach the World Cup final for the first time since 2007 (David Davies/PA)

"It's an example of what you can do. People are raving about Japan at the moment and it's fantastic but you look at what New Zealand have done with 4million people.

"You have to admire them, but then the challenge is to beat them and the reason I took this job is because I saw a team that could be great. That was the challenge and they are starting to believe it.

"New Zealand are a great team with a great coach with a great captain, but like any team they are beatable and there are ways to beat them. We know that with a World Cup semi-final the whole sporting world is looking on."

England must negotiate the toughest assignment of all if they are to reach the final for the first time since 2007, but Jones welcomes the challenge.

"We are in a World Cup in a neutral country, referees, crowd, atmosphere and the teams that adapt are the ones making it to the end of the competition," Jones said.

New Zealand are regarded as the best team in world rugby
New Zealand are regarded as the best team in world rugby (Adam Davy/PA)

"You always want to play the best and New Zealand are the best – no one can dispute that. If you want to be the best in the world, you have to beat the best.

"Now talent doesn't matter – it's all about how strong the team is. When you get to this stage of the tournament, it's about how strong the team is.

"We're a strong team and we're getting stronger all the time. We're believing in each other, we believe in the way we play. We're playing to our strengths.

"Look at the second-half score against Australia – it was 23-7. That doesn't come from blowing magic dust, it comes from working hard."

Michael Cheika has reacted to Australia's World Cup demise by announcing his resignation as head coach but Jones bristled when asked if he had any comforting words for his compatriot.

Jones had no sympathy for losing coach Michael Cheika
Jones had no sympathy for losing coach Michael Cheika (David Davies/PA)

"It's not my job to be a sympathy person. My job is to coach England. I find that the most bizarre question. I really do," said former Wallabies boss Jones before he had learned of Cheika's departure.

"I spoke to Michael. Of course he was (heartbroken). One of us was going to be like that, weren't we? That's what it is, that's what happens now.

"If you win you are happy, if you lose you are bloody sad. But it's not the job of the winning coach to have sympathy for the losing coach, and it's not the job of the losing coach to be happy for the winning coach.

"We make a choice, we make a choice to take this job. Let's not get too emotional and silly about this.

"I'm not an Australian, I'm coaching England, I'm an England coach if you hadn't worked that out. Maybe you have to work that out."

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England captain Owen Farrell pictured on October 19, 2019
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