TOKYO, 31 Oct - Eddie Jones is a demanding head coach, but also the first person to recognise the contribution of his four-man inner circle during England’s journey to the Rugby World Cup final.
"They have done an outstanding job," he said of assistants Steve Borthwick, Scott Wisemantel, John Mitchell and Neal Hatley. "If you look at the percentage of work, I should probably give my money back, but I probably won’t.
"Steve Borthwick and Hats (Neal Hatley, scrum coach) with the forwards have done a great job. John Mitchell has come in and improved our defence. He has given us something a little bit different, the boys love working with him.
"And Wisey (Scott Wisemantel, attack coach) is as mad as ever, he’s like a cut snake. He’s got a great relationship with the players, he’s fun, he’s added a lot to our coaching staff."
So who are the team behind the man?
Steve Borthwick – forwards coach
Borthwick has been Jones’s right-hand man longer than any other coach, having held the same role with Japan at RWC 2015 where the two men plotted the famous victory over South Africa.
He is a former England captain whose lineout skills were absolutely vital to Bath and Saracens during his playing days.
He loves a lineout and spends endless hours poring over videos of England’s marvellously complicated series of dance moves before the ball is thrown in.
The semi-final victory over a New Zealand side boasting four recognised jumpers was his finest hour. England dominated this area of play, providing crucial possession on the way to that 19-7 victory.
As Maro Itoje said after that game: "He (Borthwick) has made a career of lineouts. He is the professor. If there was a PhD in lineouts he would be a double PhD.”
Scott Wisemantel – attack coach
Wisemantel is a bundle of energy who was brought in by Jones to broaden England’s attacking strategy. A former rugby league and union player, he worked with Jones and Japan at RWC 2015. He is a brilliant communicator whose enthusiasm is infectious.
The Australian has given England’s attack a more balanced look, challenging the back three players to carry the ball back as well as use the kick- and-chase to good effect.
Wisemantel, 49, arrived in the middle of last year and his contract finishes after the World Cup, but his impact has been so positive that England will surely wish to retain his services.
His skills are also utilised by World Rugby. He has headed up their Combine training camps, which are designed to ensure the top talents from Tier 2 nations find clubs and provinces that suit their skills and lifestyles, in Fiji and the United States.
John Mitchell – defence coach
Since Mitchell, a former back-row forward, was persuaded to leave the Bulls Super Rugby franchise and join England’s coaching team in September last year his influence has grown by the day.
Under Mitchell, the former New Zealand and USA head coach, England have become even tougher to break down. Their semi-final win over the All Blacks drew plaudits from the losing coaches.
As New Zealand head coach, Mitchell lost in the RWC 2003 semi-final to an Australia team coached by Jones, an experience that has proved invaluable in helping England's players to deal with the latter stages of this tournament.
As Mitchell said about the phone call Jones made to offer him the job: "There was a feeling I could add and contribute to the team.
"I also knew Eddie on a personal basis having crossed paths since we coached Australia and New Zealand way back. He's always had a kind heart and has always been a guy that has wanted to learn and been willing to share as well."
Neal Hatley – scrum coach
Hatley and his long shorts - no matter the weather – have been a constant factor in the England coaching team since he arrived in 2016.
The former London Irish prop captained England Saxons and worked as Bath's scrum and defence coach, having previously been head of London Irish's academy and first-team scrum coach.
When choosing Hatley, Jones made it clear how vital his role would be. He said: "Successful English rugby teams have always had strong, powerful, dominant scrums, so this is an important appointment."
Hatley has helped to turn Harlequins' Kyle Sinckler into a technically sound prop to supplement his ball-carrying, and the scrum has become one of the key foundations for Jones’s gameplan.
RNS cj/js/icr/bo