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‘The biggest risk’: Eddie Jones backs Wallabies to win next two World Cups
Coach Eddie Jones believes the “young players” in Australia are good enough to help the Wallabies win the next two Rugby World Cups, including the tournament on home soil in 2027.
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The Wallabies announced their 33-man squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup on Thursday evening, and there were some shocking omissions.
As reported by Australian media outlets earlier in the day, former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper and veteran Quade Cooper were expected to miss out. These reports proved to be true.
Injured centre Len Ikitau has also failed to overcome a devastating injury, and loose forwards Jed Holloway and Pete Samu were also omitted from the new-look squad.
Coach Jones has gone in a different direction.
The Wallabies will turn to generation next when they travel to France later this month, with 25 players preparing for their first World Cup campaign.
“We think the young players are the players that are going to take Australian rugby forward,” Jones told reporters on Thursday evening.
“This squad’s good enough to win this World Cup and possibly go on and win the next World Cup so that’s the advantage of picking young guys.
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“They all deserve their opportunities, it’s not like we’re handing them the jersey on a platter.
“They’ll bring energy and a lot of ambition and enthusiasm to the team.”
The Wallabies have picked three uncapped players in their World Cup squad, including teen sensation Max Jorgensen – who will turn 19 about a week before the Wallabies Test against Georgia.
Brumbies prop Blake Schoupp and Western Force halfback Issak Fines-Leleiwasa could also potentially make their debuts in Wallaby gold on the biggest stage in rugby union.
Australia is coming off a heartbreaking loss in Dunedin. After racing out to a commanding 14-point lead during the first term, the visitors went on to lose 23-20 to the heavily favoured All Blacks.
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It was the Wallabies’ fourth loss in a row under coach Jones.
“I think the biggest risk is not the take the risk. These are a very good squad of players, we’ve got plenty of talent here, but what we don’t have is a team who can fight for 80 minutes,” Jones added.
“We showed against New Zealand last week (that) we can dominate a very good New Zealand team for 40 minutes, but then we lack that little bit of ‘teamness’, that little bit of toughness under pressure.
“That’s what we’re gonna find over the next three or four weeks.”
Jones has only coached four Test matches this season, but the 63-year-old officially unveiled his fifth captain of the year on Thursday.
Towering lock Will Skelton, who plays his club rugby in France with European powerhouse La Rochelle, is set to become the 88th captain of the Wallabies.
“We went for the biggest bloke in the team,” Jones joked. “It was easy.
“Nah we want to change the team. My job is to come here and change the team, and part of that is changing the leadership – the way the team’s led.
“Will’s a good man, a good team man, he’s played in a lot of winning teams in Europe and he brings that almost common touch to the team to bring them together.
“Of course, he’s going to be well supported by Tate (McDermott) as vice-captain. We’ve got senior guys in (James) Slips, Nic White and Andrew Kellaway to support him, and Samu Kerevi.”
The Wallabies take on World Cup hosts France in a warmup Test later this month. It’s their final match before opening their tournament against minnows Georgia next month.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
31 Go to comments