Australia centre Samu Kerevi says the controversy over former England coach Eddie Jones’ management style may be down to cultural differences between sets of players.
Jones, who coached England to three Six Nations titles and a Rugby World Cup final between 2016 and 2022, was criticised by former England scrum-half Danny Care over the weekend.
In book excerpts serialised by the Times,, external Care described Jones overseeing a “toxic environment”, in which the Australian would belittle and berate players and staff.
“I wouldn’t say terrifying,” said 31-year-old Kerevi of working under Jones. “It’s how you take it. I grew up in a different culture to what it is now in rugby.
“I’ve got a good relationship with Eddie. I think he puts pressure, not just on the players, but the staff.
“I think that’s what Danny Care’s talking about, but again, it’s how you receive it. Whether you thrive under it.”
Kerevi was part of an Australia side which failed to make it out of the pool stages of the 2023 Rugby World Cup during Jones’ second stint in charge of his native country. He was also coached by 64-year-old Jones at Japanese club Tokyo Sungoliath.
Jones continued his consultancy work with the side throughout his time with England.
Care himself says that Jones’ methods worked, in the short-term at least.
“I stand by the fact – and I say it in the book – that Eddie is still the best coach that I have ever worked with,” he told Rugby Union Weekly.
“He gave me some of the greatest memories of my rugby career – that came at a price.
“Maybe it had to be that way to get the success that we had. Maybe you have to go through some really tough times, and be that driven, and there be that much pressure, to get that.
“But I don’t think that can last forever, there is a timeline in that and it came to a period where it was too much for us as players and you saw a bit of a downward spiral.”
