Wallaby defends Eddie Jones’ methods after former England star claims ‘everyone was terrified of him’

Australian center Samu Kerevi has defended Eddie Jones after claiming the coach was ruled by fear during his seven-year spell in charge of England.

Former England scrum-half Danny Care claimed in his autobiography that “everyone was terrified of him” and compared Jones’ regime to a dystopian novel.

In an extract from Care’s new book, Everything Happens for a Reason: My Life in Rugby, published by The Times, the 37-year-old said: “Did Eddie rule out of fear? Of course he did, everyone was terrified of him.

“(England) Jonny May probably summed up the situation best: he came in for breakfast, with his head down and muttered: ‘Expect everything today, boys, expect everything…’

“We said to each other, ‘Remember, guys, everything is a test,’ as if we were characters in a dystopian novel.”

But Kerevi, who is currently preparing for the first match of Australia’s tour of Great Britain and Ireland against England at Twickenham on Saturday, has a different view of 64-year-old Australian Jones, who is now in his second spell as head coach of Japan sit.

Kerevi, currently at Japanese club Urayasu D-Rocks and who played under Jones until October last year during his second spell as Wallabies coach, said: “I wouldn’t say (it was) scary.

“I guess it’s how you take it. I grew up in a different culture to what it is now in rugby.

“The pursuit of excellence puts pressure on everyone and I think that’s exactly how Eddie is.

‘I have a good relationship with Eddie. I think he puts pressure not only on the players, but also on the staff.

“I think that’s what Danny Care is talking about, but again, it’s how you receive it. Whether you thrive under it.

“I don’t think he got the results for us last year with Eddie, but our focus now is on Joe and the team. I wish Eddy all the best.”

Australia starts its four-match tour under current coach Joe Schmidt against England before facing Wales, Scotland and Ireland on successive weekends through November.

The Wallabies finished bottom of the Rugby Championship in September after winning just one of their six matches, and slumped to their biggest Test defeat when they lost 27-67 to Argentina in Santa Fe.

Schmidt’s side will start as underdogs at Twickenham, but Kerevi added: “We can’t think too much about the outside noise. We are internally focused.

“We know what it takes to be at our best. We are here to win this weekend and we are preparing accordingly.”

© AAP