“It’s always nice to get one up on him” - Warren Gatland has identified Eddie Jones as the coach he “loved beating”

British and Irish Lions and Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland has picked out Eddie Jones as the coach he “loved beating” during his time as Wales head coach.

Gatland spoke on Sky Sport NZ‘s The Breakdown and spoke about a wide range of topics, one of which was his rivalry with England's head coach Jones.

The pair traded words through the media multiple times and described their war of words as “just a game”.

Gatland told The Breakdown that he and Jones had a great off-field relationship and would go out to dinner together ahead of a Six Nations campaign.

“I loved beating Eddie Jones,” the 56-year-old former All Blacks hooker said.

“We’ve been out for dinner a few times and the whole media thing is just a game.

“You’ll get asked a question and you might give a response to it. And they’ll use your answer which he’ll respond to.

“Before the Six Nations, we’ll go out to dinner and just have a laugh to what happens in the media.

“It’s just part of it. Before the Six Nations launch I’ll say ‘go in there Eddie and throw in a few grenades’ and he’ll say the same to me as well.

“But it’s always nice to get one up on him.”