Eddie Jones names the three greatest players he has ever coached
Few coaches in world rugby possess a CV as extensive or as varied as Eddie Jones. Over a career spanning three decades, the Australian has held the reins at the Brumbies, the Wallabies, the Springboks (as a consultant), Saracens, England, and Japan.
During that time, he has worked with a significant percentage of the professional era’s greatest talents. From the golden generation of Australian rugby in the early 2000s to the England side that reached the 2019 World Cup final, Jones has seen it all.
However, when asked recently by former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton to name the three best players he has ever coached, Jones looked back to his Southern Hemisphere roots. The list is comprised exclusively of World Cup winners, featuring a tactical mastermind at scrum-half, a revolutionary fly-half, and one of the finest breakdown operators the game has seen.
3. George Smith (Australia)
Rounding out the podium is George Smith, the durable and dynamic openside flanker who earned 111 caps for Australia. Smith made his debut under Jones at the Brumbies and became a central figure in the Wallabies side coached by Jones between 2001 and 2005.
Jones offered a candid assessment of Smith’s early days, noting the transformation required to turn him into an elite athlete.
“Probably George Smith, mate,” Jones said. “Complete opposite [to some others], loved a good time, but he turned a tiny, fat little body into a champion player.”
Smith redefined the role of the number seven in Australia, combining immense strength over the ball with the handling skills of a back. His longevity was equally impressive, with his career taking him from Canberra to Toulon, Suntory, Lyon, Wasps, and back to the Reds before retiring in 2019.
Read Also:Kevin Mealamu reveals the ‘formidable’ Springbok who was his toughest opponent
Read Also:Eddie Jones on Springboks: The ‘Simple Essence’ Behind South Africa’s Success
2. Stephen Larkham (Australia)
Coming in second is the man who orchestrated the Wallabies’ attack during their 1999 World Cup triumph. Stephen Larkham began his career as a fullback before Jones (then at the Brumbies) and Rod Macqueen converted him into a fly-half—a move that Jones believes changed the sport.
“Larkham revolutionized the game as a running 10,” Jones explained. “Long pass, short pass, [could] kick a drop kick.”
Jones highlighted a specific moment of irony regarding Larkham’s kicking game. While not known as a prolific tactical kicker compared to his contemporaries, Larkham delivered one of the most famous moments in World Cup history: the 48-metre drop goal in extra time against South Africa in the 1999 semi-final.
“I think he only kicked one drop kick and he won a World Cup,” Jones added. “That’s a different level.”
WATCH: The Most Unreal Rugby Tries of 2025 — Pure Magic in Every Play
1. Fourie du Preez (South Africa)
Top of Jones’s list is the legendary Springbok scrum-half, Fourie du Preez. Jones worked intimately with du Preez during the 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign, where Jones served as a technical advisor to Jake White’s victorious South African side.
Jones has frequently cited du Preez as the most intelligent rugby player he has encountered, and he reiterated that stance to Hamilton.
“Number one is Fourie du Preez,” Jones said. “South African halfback. He saw the game three rucks before everyone else. Incredible player.”
Du Preez was the tactical heartbeat of the 2007 Springboks and later captained the side at the 2015 World Cup. His ability to manipulate territory with his kicking game and marshal the forward pack set a standard for scrum-half play that few have matched since. For Jones, the scrum-half’s ability to predict the flow of the game separates him from the rest.
A specific criteria
It is notable that Jones’s top three entirely omits players from his tenure with England, despite his success in winning three Six Nations titles and reaching a World Cup final with that group.
Instead, the selection favours players who fundamentally altered the way their positions were played: Smith at the breakdown, Larkham in the backline, and du Preez as the on-field general. For a coach who has always prized rugby intellect and adaptability, these three stand as the ultimate testaments to his philosophy.
