Eddie Jones' full press conference after loss to Wallabies
England’s third successive Test defeat heaped more pressure on their coach Eddie Jones ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.
The Wallabies overcome injury and ill-discipline to pull off a famous 30-28 victory over England in Perth and snap an eight-game losing streak.
The Australians were forced to play a man down for more than half the match on Saturday night after lock Darcy Swain was marched for head-butting English rival Jonny Hill.
As well as losing Swain after 34 minutes, which will likely see him sit out the series, the Wallabies also suffered carnage on the injury front.
They lost playmaker Quade Cooper (calf) in the warm-up and fullback Tom Banks (broken arm) and prop Allan Alaalatoa (concussion) by the 25th minute.
But the home side showed their courage to stay in the fight and score three second-half tries to end England’s seven-year domination.
Annoyed at the loss, Jones felt New Zealand referee James Doleman looked to square the ledger following Australia’s send-off.
“You look at the history of the game, whenever you get a red card the referee evens it up,” Jones said.
“That’s normal and we’ve got to be good enough to handle it.”
But he also said the referee wasn’t to blame for the loss.
“Australia deserved the victory, playing one man short and we’re disappointed we didn’t convert our opportunities to put the game away.”
Australian coach Dave Rennie said he was delighted with the character shown by his team under the bizarre circumstances.
“We’re absolutely rapt with the character,” Rennie said.
“I thought the first half, we lost the collisions both sides of the ball and struggled to get our game going.
“I thought the leadership on the run with that sort of challenge with a player missing was excellent.”
Noah Lolesio came into the starting side to replace Cooper while James O’Connor was called down to the bench from the hospitality suites at Optus Stadium.
Lolesio’s radar boot proved decisive with the youngster kicking three conversions and three penalties amongst the haul earning special praise from Rennie.
“He was awesome,” Rennie said.
“He didn’t blink an eye about starting and I thought he was excellent, and his goal-kicking under pressure again was really impressive.”
Banks suffered a sickening broken arm, landing on it as he contested a high ball and was taken from the ground on a medi-cab.
Despite the disruption the Wallabies went into halftime at 6-6, and three minutes later took the lead for the first time through a Lolesio penalty.
But it was short-lived with the visitors driving the ball over from a line-out through prop Ellis Genge.
Eddie believes the refs were too nice after the Darcy Swain red card, is this right or did England not take their chances? ? pic.twitter.com/FzK8ING8vL
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 2, 2022
It looked like Jones’s men were starting to get on top but the gutsy Wallabies refused to lay down.
Their forwards hit the ball up through 10 phases before sending it wide with winger Jordan Petaia rolling across the line in the tackle.
Lolesio’s conversion from the sideline put the home side back in front.
England then lost Billy Vunipola to a yellow card for a dangerous tackle and the Australians took advantage with reserve hooker Folau Fainga’a peeling off a maul to touch down.
They extended their advantage to 28-14 in the 77th minute through Pete Samu, and while England debutants Henry Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet crossed late it was Australia’s night.
Comments on RugbyPass
The side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
4 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
4 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
4 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
4 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to comments