Australian center Samu Kerevi has defended Eddie Jones after claiming the coach ruled by fear during his seven years in charge of England.

Former England scrum-half Danny Care claimed in his autobiography that “everyone was terrified of him” and compared Jones’ regime to a dystopian novel.

In an extract from Care’s new book, Everything Happens for a Reason: My Life in Rugby, published by The Times, the 37-year-old said: “Did Eddie rule by fear? Of course he did, everyone was terrified of him.

“(England flanker) Jonny May probably summed up the situation best: he was walking in to breakfast, head down, muttering: ‘Expect anything today, lads, expect anything…’

“We used to say to each other, ‘Remember, guys, everything is a test,’ as if we were characters in a dystopian novel.”

But Kerevi, currently preparing for the first match of Australia’s tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland against England at Twickenham on Saturday, has a different view of Australian Jones, 64, now in his second spell as head coach. from Japan.

Kerevi, currently with Japanese club Urayasu D-Rocks and who played under Jones during his second spell as Wallabies coach until October last year, said: “I wouldn’t say (it was) scary.

“I think that’s how you take it. I grew up in a different culture than there is now in rugby.

“The pursuit of excellence puts pressure on everyone and I think that’s just Eddie.

“I have a good relationship with Eddie. I think it puts pressure, not only on the players, but also on the staff.

“I think that’s what Danny Care is talking about, but again, it’s how you receive it. If you prosper under it.

“I guess for us it didn’t get the results in the last year with Eddie, but now our focus is on Joe and the team. I wish Eddie all the best.”

(Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

Australia will begin their four-match tour under current coach Joe Schmidt against England before facing Wales, Scotland and Ireland on successive weekends through November.

The Wallabies finished bottom of the Rugby Championship in September after winning just one of their six matches, and suffered their biggest defeat in the Test when they lost 27-67 to Argentina in Santa Fe.

Schmidt’s team will start as underdogs at Twickenham, but Kerevi added: “We can’t think too much about the outside noise. We are internally focused.

“We know what it takes to be at our best. “We are here to win this weekend and we are preparing accordingly.”

© AAP