England are undergoing their final preparations for a hostile reception at Eden Park, ahead of their second Test against the All Blacks this Saturday. Steve Borthwick’s side get set to venture to the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby, and the iconic Auckland stadium has not witnessed an All Blacks defeat for 30 years.
Legendary All Black Ian Jones spoke exclusively to RUCK this week, about how New Zealand view Eden Park as a fortress which they are sworn to protect. We had the opportunity to speak with the former lock at the All Blacks Experience, with the 79-capped second row attending a special exhibition, which showcases 100 years since the All Blacks’ invincible tour of Europe in 1924 and 1925. Jones discussed how Eden Park creates a unique atmosphere for All Blacks Test matches, and he hopes to see the ‘fortress’ hold strong in the upcoming clash with England.
“Well, it’s our fortress. We don’t have a home ground per se like England do at Twickenham, but for many New Zealanders, for many of the All Blacks, that is the home of New Zealand Rugby. For that reason alone you protect your home as a fortress, it’s a unique ground and the fact that it’s our biggest. 46,000 people will be there so it creates this incredible energy and an atmosphere.
The fact that that’s it’s a cricket oval, so you need to understand its parameters and the dimensions. New Zealanders understand that, the All Blacks understand that, and for those reasons that kind of makes it powerful. You’re not just playing against the All Blacks you’re playing against New Zealand.”
After racking up a tight 16-15 win for his first Test in charge of the All Blacks, head coach Scott Robertson is looking to double his winning record as he takes to the helm for the first time at Eden Park. The former Crusaders coach is a charismatic figure, that has embodied the fresh start that New Zealand rugby needed after the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final defeat to South Africa. Ian Jones has certainly been amongst those impressed by the coach known as ‘Razor’, and expressed his expectations for his second Test in charge.
“I’ve been so impressed, no disrespect to the others because Ian Foster’s a teammate of mine very good friend of mine. But I just love the way that Razor includes New Zealanders, he speaks openly and honestly, he’s animated. This sport is emotion you can’t take emotion out of sport, and Razor wears that.
“When you give so much energy you get so much energy back, and that’s what I think the team, the All Blacks themselves, will be getting so much energy from Razor, so much enthusiasm from Razor. When people like Razor gives you confidence, you grow.
“So that’s I’ve been wildly impressed and yeah, I love the energy. Love the passion. I love the inclusiveness and when New Zealand is behind the All Blacks, the All Blacks are unbeatable.”
One of the first acts that Robertson did as the new All Blacks head coach, was appoint his former Crusaders lock Scott Barrett as the nation’s captain. The lock is a man of few words compared to his highly animated head coach, with Barrett happy to let his actions do the talking as he tears down the house across New Zealand and across the globe.
Recognising the on-field talents of the lock, Jones was full of praise for Barrett’s early run as All Blacks captain. The second most-capped All Blacks lock of all-time, Jones certainly knows a thing or two about excelling in the New Zealand engine room. With only Sam Whitelock, the most-capped All Black regardless of position, making more Test match appearances in the row for New Zealand, Jones weighed in on his impressions of Scott Barrett as a leader and a lock.
“(Razor) May elevate his game, he’s a hell of a player anyway. But the great thing about Scotty Barrett is as captain is he’s a classic New Zealander. New Zealand will get them behind him because he is hard working. He is kind of staunch, ruthless, he is just a quintessential New Zealander and New Zealanders love him. The team will love him, they’ll get behind him, he’s a hell of a player who will go the whole 80.
In that last kind of 10, 15 (minutes in the first test) and England were just pressing, they were desperate for points, and the New Zealand skippers are important to New Zealand sides, they are really important to us.
“Our Skipper was disciplined (against England) he was ruthless and he led, and everyone followed him. So they were able to get the job done in Dunedin, if your leader is not like that you can crumble.
“So it was good, relationships between coach and Captain are really important but also relationships within Captain in the teammates are important. And you saw as well, you’re Ardie Savea, and his (Barrett’s) brothers Beauden and Jordie, they will step up to support their mate.”
Casting his attention now upon the England squad, and Jones certainly recognises the qualities of a top quality lock. When asked about who within Steve Borthwick’s side has been laying down the marker upon the tour of New Zealand, the former All Blacks and Chiefs lock did not hesitate in picking out Maro Itoje. The Saracen is certainly amongst the England players that is respected by the New Zealand rugby community, with the lock’s career trajectory reaching it’s peaks in the land called Aotearoa.
Beginning as far back as Itoje’s tenure within the England U20s, the lock would win shine in the 2014 Junior World Championship upon New Zealand soil. He would return to New Zealand in the famous red of the 2017 British & Irish Lions, and starred in the second and third Tests, including the famous draw at Eden Park. Jones highlighted the respect that Itoje is shown in New Zealand, as the England vice-captain prepares to once again be a leading voice in the team.
“Itoje is just sensational, what an incredible man both on and off the field. I first laid eyes on him quite a few years ago when he actually captained the England under 20s, who had a world tournament here and I was mightily impressive both on and off the field then, and that hasn’t changed. So he was an absolute standout.”
“(England need to) believe in themselves, start to absolutely trust what they’re doing is right. Pick themselves up because it hard when you put so much emotional energy into Dunedin, and actually replicate that again. So, that was really important that they either ride that momentum that they got in Dunedin, and just truly believe because if they don’t believe they’re not going to win.
“It’s easier said than done so need to kind of do all of that, and they just got to keep absolutely trusting that blitz defence, believe in that system and just keep smoking the All Blacks. Because any team at any level of the game, physicality often wins it. That’s what really impressed all of us, about the English physicality, but the physicality with speed that was that was mightily impressive.”
Picking out another player from England’s attacking threats, Jones name-checked Marcus Smith as a top talent that the All Blacks need to control ahead of the second Test. All discussion around the Harlequins’ missed kicks to one side, and Smith had a stunning effort out in Dunedin, with the Forsyth Barr Stadium lit up by the fly half’s rapid tempo of attack.
“The width they play, Marcus Smith and your fullback (George Furbank), because of the momentum given, had this attacking mindset and I hope they keep that attacking mindset. I hope they say ‘hey, this is who we are, this is how we’re going to play, and let’s go.'”
“Marcus Smith was so good because he ran with the ball in two hands, always questioning our defence with beautiful pop plays. His footwork was so good because he ran with intent. As soon as he got the ball he just smoked it.
“I love the way England played. I love that clash of when two teams have intent to attack, and a referee allows them to do that. I’m very biased here but it’s still the greatest game in the world. We all walked away from Dunedin last week, win or lose whatever side you’re on, we’re thinking, ‘far out, rugby is an amazing game when it’s played at that level. And that’s what I hope to see at Eden Park.”