Never dull and never afraid to think outside the box, Eddie Jones is using the Osama bin Laden manhunt as a theme for England’s 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign.
After naming a training squad to prepare for four home Tests in November, Jones revealed he had spent “a fascinating couple of days” with the United States Navy SEALs in San Diego.
Jones said the trip was designed to gain a better appreciation for working under extreme pressure and to help players ”cope with the unexpected”.
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In particular he referenced Operation Neptune Spear, the US government’s 2011 killing of al-Qaeda leader bin Laden in Pakistan as retribution for the September 11 attacks on America.
“You know the Osama thing, they practiced that whole project for 12 months for 38 minutes of work,” Jones explained.
“And the first thing they did was wrong. The helicopter hit the wall (of the bin Laden compound). They had 12 months to prepare, went through it religiously and they still got something wrong, but then they were able to cope with it and get it done within 38 minutes.
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“You look at the analogy between us now. Twelve months to the World Cup, we’re playing for a game that’s got 35 minutes of ball in play, so the ability to dress rehearse, prepare the players for what’s coming up, whether it’s the first round, second round, third round, whatever it is, that is the opportunity going forward. Exciting isn’t it?”
Jones has coached two teams that have reached World Cup finals but lost: the 2003 Wallabies and England in 2019.
He said he would put his players through a ”mini hell week” in Jersey in preparation for the Tests against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
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Jones led England to a 2-1 series win over the Wallabies in Australia this year.
“We saw in Australia some really good toughness and togetherness, especially in the second and third Test, and some young guys coming through,” Jones said.
“Just watching (Henry) Arundell and Will Joseph at the weekend (in club rugby) makes you excited. They’re humble, they want to get better, they’re training hard. And who knows where they can go.
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“That leadership part is really important for us because we’ve got this group of young players coming through. We’ve got to get that right balance of people and skills and mindset to lead the team into what’s going to be probably the most volatile rugby environment we’ve ever seen.”
England training squad
Forwards: Ollie Chessum, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Jonny Hill, Lewis Ludlam, Tom Pearson, David Ribbans, Bevan Rodd, Patrick Schickerling, Sam Simmonds, Will Stuart, Hugh Tizard, Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Jack Walker, Jack Willis
Backs: Henry Arundell, Joe Cokanasiga, Fraser Dingwall, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Will Joseph, Jonny May, Alex Mitchell, Jack Nowell, Guy Porter, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Youngs
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