Tuesday, 24th July 2007 at 3:00 pm

Eddie Jones inflicted on Boks

You’d think they’d suffered enough this year. A long, demanding Super 14. Regular interference from idiot politicians and administrators. A barrage of abuse from Australia and New Zealand over the squad for the away leg of the Tri-Nations. The threat of having to do a Zulu war dance in front of the whole world. The cringeworthy squad announcement at Canal Walk. But no, there’s more…

…for the Springboks have now had Eddie Moans inflicted upon them as a consultant ahead of the World Cup. Jake White has invited the former Australia coach to spend time with the team, with a view to preparing the Boks for a possible clash with the Wallabies in France. The same Jones who recently got the sack from the Reds, after leading the Brisbane side firmly to the bottom of the Super 14.

But perhaps there’s a spark of genius to White’s invitation. Jones, who is set to coach Saracens (having been sacked by the Reds), was also sacked by Australia after a spectacular run of defeats. No question, then, that he knows how to orchestrate a Wallaby defeat; granted, he was coaching the team at the time of the defeats, but even so, there might just be something in this…