Deans say Australia 'can only take so much punishment' as England series looms
Former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans believes Eddie Jones will need all his magic tricks to guide England to another series victory over Australia this winter.
Australian Jones boasts an eight-from-eight record over the Wallabies since taking charge of England following their disastrous home Rugby World Cup campaign in 2015.
The ex-Wallabies mentor tormented Michael Cheika for seven of those wins before masterminding a 32-15 rout over Dave Rennie’s side at Twickenham last November.
Deans, though, has been encouraged by the improvement of Australia’s Super Rugby sides and also the Wallabies under Rennie and can’t see another 3-0 sweep to England like six years ago when Australia hosts another three-Test series in July.
“You can only take so much punishment, particularly if you’re a proud sporting nation like Australia,” said Deans, two days after guiding Saitama Wild Knights to a fifth Japanese Top League title with an 18-12 win over Suntory Sungoliath, where Jones is director of rugby.
“They were always going to respond and they exposed a lot of young players through Super (Rugby).
“It’s just that time in the saddle and no Australian sportsman is going to stay down for long. They’re on the incline and the international program will benefit from that. They’ll have more depth, more competition, more ability to ride out injuries and form.
“And they’ve got the ultimate incentive now – two World Cups ahead of them (in 2023 in France and 2027 in Australia).”
Asked if Jones would have any tricks up his sleeve, Deans said: “I hope so – he’ll need them.”
“Yeah, they’ll be a challenge. No doubt about it. Eddie will be looking at it and expecting to win. It won’t be straightforward.”
The Wallabies will be boosted by the return of the Wild Knights’ star winger Marika Koroibete, who pledged his commitment to the series on Tuesday night.
Rennie is also set to recall fellow Japan-based pair Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi as his two other overseas options allowed under Rugby Australia’s new eligibility rules.
Deans is tipping an epic series.
“It’s going to be of great interest, which is good for the game,” he said. “You wouldn’t want too much at stake in terms of picking the outcome, which is good as well.
“It’s a year out from the World Cup and it’s an exciting time in Australian rugby, so it’s the front end of what will hopefully be a really positive resurgence for the game in the south.
“It’s not Australia, I think New Zealand (who play three home Tests against Ireland) as well could do with that.
“It’s important that Southern Hemisphere rugby – it’s been up the top the whole way, they’ve only let one World Cup slip – and we don’t want to make a habit of that.”
– Darren Walton
Comments on RugbyPass
One tough SOB!
15 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
1 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
15 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
15 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
18 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
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