Stephen Jones, your country is calling.

Let me set the scene. The day and the hour have come, they've brought with them the power and the glory, and you better believe it your country is calling. 

You answer that call...don’t you?

Simon Easterby thought so. 

An offer to join Joe Schmidt’s coaching ticket, drew the the former Ireland back row man, away from his job as head coach at The Scarlets, and across the Irish Sea to serve his motherland. In summary, It’s proving a decent decision. 

Easterby’s promotion to the domain of international rugby left a door open at Parc y Scarlets. Enter, Wayne Pivac. 

The former Fiji and Auckland chief, who has a Rugby World Cup Sevens and an NPC title to his name, had arrived in Wales only months prior to Easterby’s departure. Initially mandated with doing his Kiwi coaching thing on The Scarlets’ pack. He soon found himself promoted to big boss man. (Not the blue shirted, truncheon yielding, WWF enforcer.)

Skip a few episodes, and (spoiler alert) Pivac gets appointed as the successor to his countryman, Warren Gatland, as coach of the Welsh national side. Note, the intervening episodes make for a decent watch, Scarlets fan or otherwise. 

As it stands, Pivac has been appointed as a lone ranger. Presumably, Wales’ fourth Kiwi coach, will be given carte blanche to construct his own coaching cabinet. If so, one would expect that the name of his number two at The Scarlets, Stephen Jones, would be a firm number one on the wanted list. 

On the surface, it seems a natural progression for Jones, from Llanelli to the national side. Just as he did as a player. 

You answer your country’s call. 

Don’t you?

Maybe not.

Consider the case of old mate, Howley. A man, who like Jones, was once considered the hottest prospect in Welsh coaching.  

‘Are we talking Robert Howley, assistant coach during two grand slams, head coach (caretaker) for a Six Nations championship win and backs coach for three Lions tours?’

‘Ye, that’s him.’

Despite the enhancements to his mantle piece and curriculum vitae, Stephen Jones’ old half back partner has copped a skip load of criticism during his tenure. Yes, I know, it’s Welsh rugby, and nobody is exempt from the wrath of the keyboard warrior. Perhaps the more damning criticism has come from players who have served under his tutelage. The likes of Lee Byrne and Sean O’Brien, have gone public with perceived faults in Howley’s methods. 

His medal collection might be a draw for local magpies, but his reputation is less than gleaming after a decade on the Welsh coaching staff. 

When the current Welsh brains trust splits following Rugby World Cup 2019, Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards will be headhunted for another top job, quick sharp. Conversely, Howley might find himself having a few awkward coffees with recruiters, who might professionally enquire if he’d consider a lesser role to get his foot in the door. 

Stephen Jones would be well advised to weigh up his long term career ambitions, before making any decision. He should be conscious of the magnified scrutiny that he will be subjected to at International level. 

If Jones has designs on becoming Welsh head coach in the future, I’d suggest he gives his old boss the thanks but no thanks, and bides his time. Steve Hansen’s succession of Graham Henry into the All Black hot seat is the exception to the rule when it comes to the plight of the assistant. 

If he so desires, the keys to the vacant office at Parc y Scarlets would surely be chucked to the current backs coach, and with this a fantastic opportunity for a young coach to continue on a pathway of learning and improvement. Building on the experience he has gained as an assistant at Wasps and The Scarlets. 

As a player, Jones had a Kaizen like attitude towards improving his game. Long before Danny Cipriani pushed the term into the Rugby vocabulary. 

This studious ethos, ingrained in his approach to the game, has, and will continue to steer his improvement as a coach just as it did during his playing days. The former British & Irish Lions Fly Half, has been a key contributor to the style, success, and dare I say it, culture at The Scarlets, which paved the way for Wayne Pivac’s promotion. 

Stephen Jones has impressive coaching credentials, but is ready, and perhaps needs to be subjected to the additional challenges that come the way of the head honcho.

In appointing Pivac, WRU chief exec, Martyn Phillips, proffered that he didn’t think there was a Welsh coach ready to fill Gatland’s boots. Jones has the potential to ensure that this isn’t the case when the position next becomes vacant.

Stephen, if your country calls, i'll say your busy.