An exclusive look at the changing face of Rugby Union with All Black great Ian Jones

Ex All Black icon and current Sky Sports rugby analyst, grew up in Whangarei and learnt how to play many sports including cricket, swimming and rugby. Ian played rugby and did swimming throughout his high school years. Ian decided to become a rugby player because “growing up in Whangarei we didn’t have a heated pool, just an outside cold pool so we always struggled. I then started getting into Northland rep teams for rugby.”

The young lock was lucky even to be picked for the Northland Colts team in 1988 and was unlucky to miss out on being selected for the New Zealand Colts tour that year. “The coach at the time Danny Oshane said well bugger those guys and ended up putting me in the North Auckland team straight away from the Colt. I sat on the bench for a couple of games, which was in 1988.” After two years Ian made his debut for the All Blacks in 1990 against Scotland in Carisbrook, Dunedin. Ian debuted with rugby greats including Graham Bachop, Craig Innes, Matthew Rigde and Steve Gordans and describes his debut as a feeling he will never forget “Sometimes it is hard to find the words but everyone wants to represent the All Blacks but for me the memories and the games was so quick. It went within a flash really”.

After Ian’s debut against the Scottish, he was lucky even to play in his first Bledisloe Cup match in 1990 and was apart of the side that won the series 2-1 and describes the loss in the third game as a bit of an eye-opener. “Taking on Australia is everything you have ever read about. I remember wrapping up the series in Eden Park and going to Wellington it was horrible day, weather wise and we lost that day. I couldn’t believe it, was quite a blow actually. Was bit of a wake up call really to loose as the All Blacks loosing was a bit un heard of. Every experience, occasion and opportunity is wonderful”. In 1992 he made his debut against South Africa in Durban, a moment he will never forget. “Experiencing the passion the South African people have, playing at Alice Park a famous stadium down in Gerber. I remember the day very well actually, Ellis Park Stadium, really cool atmosphere, a little bit intimidating but really enjoyed it.”

Ian preferred playing tours instead of tri nations / individual games as he felt that you get full package. “Tours for me are one of the memories of my career as not only did I get to play test matches, you play mid week games. The pressure was still on as you were playing for the All Blacks. You’re living the dream really, staying in nice places, being with your mates’ everyday, doing what you love, and representing the All Blacks. I count myself lucky to have the long tours, as I look now and they are just having short trips for game matches. It was wonderful to be able to go on those trips.”

Ian would like to experience the same tours that he did during his career and experiencing playing in “mid week games, meeting the locals, the crowd, the country, having the nights out, hanging with your mates.” He also feels that being involved in long tours allows players to form strong friendships with opposition players that have lasted him till today.

At the beginning of 1995 the Super 15 was formed and rugby went professional, players were now being paid for playing a sport they loved.  “We have always thought professionally but professionalism isn’t about money, its how you think. But all of a sudden we are getting paid, and our games were at night that was something new. Forming this new team with Bay of Plenty and Waikato guys.” Ian played 38 games for the Chiefs and describes playing for the club as a moment he will never forget as he was a part of the first group that help set the club culture. “Yeah it was really cool, you got the chance to set the culture and people remember you. We did a lot of commuting around, and it was quite taxing. In hindsight we should have all moved down and lived in Hamilton and I think things may have been different but we didn’t. We were learning new things everyday. I was very proud to represent the Chiefs.” After a tough physical match Ian says he recovered by doing “a lot of swimming and stretching post and after game. Never drank a lot, so think that helps in terms of a quicker recovery.”

Watching any sports game, its always nice to see a good fair game of sport officiated fairly and correctly. Ian describes a good rugby referee as having “a feel for the game. It’s the players that make the mistakes not the referee of course but they have a good feel for rugby and make good decisions. Not just textbook decision, and also a good relationship with players are important. Handling tension or frustration within players, understand the game, how to play. Players attitude count for a lot too. The quality of referees has increased over time as I think they have more things available to them.”

Throughout the last twenty years we have seen many changes to the scrum laws which have been designed to make the hit in the scrums to make them safer. Ian says “The scrum is still a contest. You have to have an even crack at the ball. Our team’s attitudes are the same and want to keep the scrum up. It’s when teams try to manipulate or bend rules that are in place then you will get a problem. New Zealand rugby Union teams tend to bend the rules to their advantage, but that’s what sports people do. What ever laws come in you just make the best for your situation or the way you play.”

As one of New Zealand’s legendary locks, Ian says that what makes a good lock is “Clearly an attitude is important to everything, a mind set to understand your role in the game, your requirement, it helps you to become who you are as a player. Being really athletic, a lot is about partnership with the others. Helping each other with strengths and weaknesses. Skill, work rate, attitude – Cant go past those!”.

Ian has played under many well regarded coaches including Sir Graham Henry and Laurie Maines and feels that a good coach in absolutely fundamental in terms of team culture and how players communicate / understand a coaches message. “If they have a positive straight up attitude, humble and hardworking that’s how the players are going to react. Team game is about respecting each other, and if you respect the person guiding and coaching you then the team will work well”.

Throughout Ian’s career he played in three Rugby World Cup’s 1991 (they finished 3^rd), 1995 (they finished runners up in that epic final) and 1999 (they finished 3^rd). Ian says that he enjoyed the 1995 world cup more than the 1991 and 1999 ones because it solely in one country not spread out. “In 1995 that was a real highlight and it’s grown into a cool tournament. I enjoyed it as it was one country and you were living there the whole time. However in 1991 and 1999 it was sort of spread over several countries up in Europe and you never quite got the same feel. You never really knew what other teams were up to. For me the best World Cup is when one country hosts all of the games. The whole country can get behind it, read media and help support.”

When the All Blacks lost any game they would compete in, media and public outcry is strong. Unfortunately, in 1999 it forced coach John Hart to resign as head coach because that was a world cup they should have won due to having a huge lead over the French. Ian describes how losses affected him. “I look back on my career and I remember the losses and I remember the wins. But it was devastating and to a point it was an embarrassment. You will be with your family and walk down the street seeing people so disappointed, and you feel disappointed because you have let them down. It’s a terrible feeling, but there is also a positive feeling. It was mind numbing to loose, the All Blacks never loose but clearly that is unrealistic as you do loose from time to time”.

Throughout rugby players careers, some guys have horrendous injuries that can even end their career. Ian however, says he was pretty lucky with injuries and was “really fortunate there. I only missed one test match ever due to injury in 1993 at Eden Park playing against Australia. I pulled my calf muscle, which was pretty horrific. But I took time to rest so I could get better and play another game two weeks later against Samoa. Another one in 1996 at Victoria where I strained another ligament, and Hyper extended my elbow which was horrific but again just missed one game. I just managed or played through injuries unless they were bad”.

In 1999, after eleven successful seasons with the All Blacks and being Chiefs captain “Achieving my goals and proved to myself what I can do”, Ian felt it was the right time to leave the Chiefs and head over to Europe to play for famous clubs Glouchester and London Wasps. He says that is wasn’t “too difficult (to leave rugby here) as I had sort of come to the end of what I have done here in New Zealand. We just had our first baby born in June and then we left in November.” He felt that the pace of English rugby was totally different to what he was used to compared to the Super 12 as “Absolutely different, was a lot slower. I played lock, the supporters are great and my family there too. Was perfect for me!”.

Ian’s favourite football memory was his debut in 1990, “It was amazing”. Ian also says that some of the best rugby players he has played with include the legendary Christian Cullum, Michael Jones, Jeff Willson and enjoyed playing against Australian lock and icon John Eales, South African lock Mark Andrews and enjoyed the clashes against South Africa as they “Respect and take the game on like us. That was always a high light!”.

Today Ian works for Sky New Zealand as an expert rugby commentator / analyst and delivers an interesting in-depth look at the game and also breaks down what happens in the forwards. “It’s great to watch and still be part of it but I don’t wish to play anymore. When the guys go out I know what they are thinking, what they have done to get where they are and how hard they work. These guys work so hard to become All Blacks so it’s nice to know what they have been through. I see things from a different point of view and angle. Been good for me and enjoy it, keeping the connection. All blacks have been a huge part of my life and its good to keep up to date”.