Eddie Jones' gamble doesn't guarantee a better career for young Wallabies
The Wallabies are staring down the barrel of a pool stage exit for the first time in Rugby World Cup history. It’s a reality that players and pundits alike are struggling to come to grips with but as they do, the analysis becomes more revealing.
Of course, it was in December of 2022 when Eddie Jones was dismissed as head coach of England, leading to Rugby Australia parting ways with Dave Rennie in favour of the controversial 63-year-old.
Less than 10 months later, much drama has ensued.
The team was six games into their international season before they found themselves on the favourable side of a scoreline at the final whistle.
The winless Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup campaigns resulted in shock selections for the Rugby World Cup, with problems compounded by the team’s attack coach quitting just before boarding the flight to Europe.
Now, with two Word Cup losses from three games further fueling the fire of criticism, the Wallabies may well be packing their bags for an early return to Australian shores.
Identifying problems is no sweat for those commentating on the team’s performance, but determining whether the losses will be healthy or disastrous in the long run is where opinion can be split.
While some may suggest the experience will put young talent in good stead for the future, that perspective hinges on whether the players get that same opportunity moving forward.
“I just think there’s no clarity,” former All Black James Parsons said of the Wallabies’ troubles on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“The best example of it, for me, is when they get that penalty (in the 25th minute), they kick to the corner and they literally trip over each other in the lineout. From there, Wales kick a 50-22 and go and score points at the other end.
“It just shows, they’re not singing off the same song sheet. They say all the right things, like ‘good week at training’.
“You look at the players, we were lauding (Marika) Koroibete 12 months ago as the best winger in the world, he works off the ball, unbelievable – he had three carries. Why is their system not structured to get him in the game? You just don’t see him hovering around Tate (McDermott) anymore.
“These are good players, like (Samu) Kerevi, he’s an amazing player, he has that little knock-on (in the 67th minute) under the goalposts. So, I actually don’t think it’s a skillset thing, there is definitely clearly some internal issues.
“I think (Eddie Jones) had those guys (Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper) in the squad during The Rugby Championship and I just genuinely think he didn’t expect to lose all those games. I just feel like he panicked and was like ‘Oh buggar this, I’m just going to bring in a whole new group’ and it’s just like a hit and hope. It hasn’t hit.
“And I’m not too sure how many (young players) are going to make it to the next World Cup. Some of these players’ careers could end based on these performances at this level. It’s ruthless, international sport. And if you get too many marks against your name, it not only gets hard to get back into the international squad but it gets hard to get a job at club-land because you’re tarred with that brush.
“So, although it’s an amazing feat to be selected for your country, if you’ve done it too early, you’ve seen it even at Super Rugby level, when young guys are thrust into the limelight and they’re not ready for that intensity, and that level, and the need for accuracy, and that need for professionalism day in, day out, they’re one and done.
“I feel for some of those players because they’re just not ready. Then there’s other players who have proven over a long period of time that they’re world-class and they’re looking average at the moment. That is purely down to whatever structures Eddie has put in place, it’s just clearly not clicking.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments