Eddie Jones adds Wallaby selection spice to Brumbies v Waratahs clash
Eddie Jones has added another layer of spice to the Super Rugby Pacific clash in Canberra, with the Test coach declaring Wallabies jerseys are on the line.
The ACT Brumbies host the NSW Waratahs on Saturday night with the home side looking to stretch their 10-game winning streak over their arch rivals.
Tensions were already running high with Brumbies chairman Matt Nobbs saying that “Tah Week” was dead because of his side’s long dominance.
That was downplayed by Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham, insisting it still meant as much as when he was running rings around NSW on the field two decades ago.
“It’s still there, internally we’re still talking about it,” Larkham said.
“They’re just up the road and we generally get a very good crowd down the highway and it creates a really good atmosphere.
“Some of our guys have got a point to prove against some of their players, and likewise for them.
“It’s a big rivalry to play against the Waratahs. It’s something special for a rugby player.”
Speaking on his weekly podcast titled Eddie, Jones said the GIO Stadium match could impact selections in his first Wallabies training squad, named on Sunday.
“It’s a crucial selection game because we’ve got two of the teams that have the most Wallaby contending players in it,” Jones said on Friday.
“To see how they fare in that game … may dictate one or two selections, one or two borderline selections.
“We’re going to keep the squad quite tight and it’s going to be hard to get in.
“But having said that it’s only the first selection of the year and there’s a long time between April and July.”
The teams clashed in the opening round of the competition, when the Brumbies ground out a 31-25 win.
They have continued on that winning trajectory, apart from their undermanned squad falling to the Crusaders last round, to sit firmly in the title picture.
The Waratahs meanwhile have struggled, with just one victory from five games to languishing in second last spot.
The Tahs get star youngster Max Jorgensen and Test centre Lalakai Foketi back after last weekend’s 24-14 loss against the Chiefs, although it is fair to say they have brought a knife to a gunfight, with the Brumbies recalling six Wallabies who missed last weekend’s game.
James Slipper, Rob Valetini, Pete Samu, Nic White and Tom Wright return from World Cup-enforced rest, while newly re-signed gun centre Len Ikitau is fit after a calf niggle.
Larkham said there was no complacency in his side despite the Tahs becoming their “bunnies”, acknowledging that their flashes of brilliance would trouble any team.
“They’ve been really good in patches, they’re probably struggling to find a little bit of consistency, but they’ve been very dangerous when you look at their games,” he said.
“They haven’t had the results, but they’ve actually played some really good footy, it’s been quite impressive.
“We’re under no illusions that just because they haven’t had the wins they’re not a good team.
“These guys can certainly match it with anyone in the competition.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
1 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
2 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
2 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
2 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
21 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
21 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to comments