Bok champ one of the best Eddie's coached

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Eddie Jones names a World Cup-winning Springbok as the No 1 player to have ever played under him over the course of his professional career.

Renowned for his extensive coaching pedigree, Jones led the Brumbies to a Super 12 title (2001), coached Australia to the 2003 World Cup final, and helped the Boks win the Rugby World Cup in 2007 as a technical advisor. He famously also guided Japan to a historic 2015 World Cup win over South Africa. 

As England boss from 2015 to 2022, the Australian won multiple Six Nations titles and reached the 2019 World Cup final. He took charge of the Wallabies again in 2023 but resigned after a disastrous World Cup campaign, before taking up his current post as head coach of Japan.

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Speaking on The Big Jim Show with former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton, the 65-year-old Jones hailed former Bok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez as head and shoulders above Wallabies greats Stephen Larkham and George Smith.

Du Preez was one of the stars of the 2007 World Cup, where he started six matches, his tactical kicking and outstanding vision key to the Boks' success. He played in two further World Cups – 2011 and 2015 – captaining his country in the latter, where he scored a famous try to beat Wales in the quarter-final.

Eddie Jones 's

One of the most talked about coaches gives us the best he has ever seen or coached.
One Springbok and two Wallabies. Fourie Du Preez keeps coming up, a lot. #TheBigJimShow#Rugbypic.twitter.com/iCqDjqcMkg

— Jim Hamilton (@jimhamilton4) February 13, 2025

Photo: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images

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