Eddie Jones issues update on Samu Kerevi's Barbarians injury
Wallabies boss Eddie Jones has given an update on the injury that forced Samu Kerevi out of Sunday’s Barbarians match after just 19 minutes. He also explained how coaching the world’s most famous invitational side this past week was invaluable with the countdown now on towards his first Rugby Championship match in charge of Australia on July 9.
The ex-England boss, who was coaching at Twickenham for the first time since his unceremonious RFU sacking last December, further gave the thumbs up to the change in the eligibility rules that will allow the likes of World XV duo Israel Folau and Charles Piutau the opportunity to play for Tonga at the upcoming Rugby World Cup after previous caps with Australia and New Zealand respectively.
Jones’ Barbarians, who eventually won 48-42 in a 14-try thriller versus Steve Hansen’s World XV, were trailing 5-21 when Kerevi exit the proceedings. His Baa-Baas selection at inside centre alongside out-half Quade Cooper was interpreted as an indication of how the Wallabies selection might unfold in six weeks’ time away to South Africa.
However, despite Kerevi starting promisingly, he was sidelined by the time the Barbarians hit their straps to motor into a 31-28 interval lead. Jones, though, later downplayed the significance of the knock when holding court downstairs in the stand-up mixed zone area of the Twickenham media centre.
“Just a tiny little strain in his hamstring,” he ventured. “It’s to be expected coming back from a knee recon. I liked what I saw. Powerful, quick, incisive. We will get him right for the Rugby Championship and then for the World Cup.
“They have had a whole week together,” he added in reference to the Kerevi/Cooper partnership. “It’s been useful. It’s been like having a mini-training camp with those two there for the Wallabies. We thank the Barbarians for doing that.”
Having not done any hands-on match-week coaching since the final November week of his England tenure, Jones was chuffed that his time with the Barbarians can now help him to get more quickly up to speed when the Wallabies assemble for their Championship opener in Pretoria.
“Enormously important,” he admitted. “I have had a smile all week, being able to coach on the field, practice getting a team together in a short period of time. A lot of it is the players but you have got to know when to give them room and when to step in. It was great practice for me. Invaluable.
“That’s the aim, mate, that’s the aim,” he added when asked if we will see the best of Jones straight off with the Wallabies. He flies home on Monday but could perhaps do with a visit to an audiologist before he takes off given his claim that he didn’t hear the frequent booing of Folau from a fair chunk of the 33,000 crowd.
“I didn’t hear it, I was watching the game,” he said about the fans repeatedly getting on Folau’s back on an afternoon when the RFU flew the pride flag from the top of the stadium. The Folau issue that Jones was more willing to talk about was the player’s change in allegiance from Australia to Tonga ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France from September.
“If you look at Piutau and Folau, they will make a hell of a difference to Tonga and that Seta Tamanivalu (who was capped by the AllBlacks), we have got to play against him (and Fiji at RWC).
“I might have to tell him to quieten down because he is one hell of a player, one hell of a player. Some of the running lines he was running, attacking inside shoulders, getting outside shoulders, being able to offload was first class.
“We want all good players to be playing international rugby and for him [Folau] to get the opportunity to play again, that three-year rule from World Rugby is a very sensible rule. It gives players who have represented other countries and have natural allegiances to another country a chance to play. That is very good.”
Final topic? The decision by Harry Potter, the 2022 Gallagher Premiership title winner at Leicester, to secure an early release from his Tigers contract so that he can go and try his luck back in Australia. Does that development make him a Wallabies contender?
“I have had a chat with him but I haven’t had a chat with him about this particular situation. We had a chat previously when I went back to Australia about the possibility of him coming back and what the opportunities were.
“He has taken up in that which is good for Australia, not good for the Tigers. It is another player that adds depth to Australian rugby. He is a good player, and he is determined to make the most of his career which is important.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Interesting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
22 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
1 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
22 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to commentsWhere has our good friend Pecos gone!? Similar place to the Crusaders D, the abyss.
4 Go to commentsNice piece Nick. I haven’t seen much of the brumbies this year so will keep my powder dry on charlie, but clearly has the speed and footwork to be damaging in space. Similar to Samu, I’d worry about the size of our pack if the likes of Mcreight and Cale were in the b/row together. Maybe Cale could play a similar finisher role like Samu did for Rennie’s wallabies. Has Cale leapfrogged wilson in your eyes? He obviously has the lineout, but harry probably better (although not great) in the physical stuff and also has great hands in the loose. You’d have to say mcreight and valetini are shoe-ins at 7/8, so the question becomes who matches best with them at 6 and on the bench. I don’t know if he has a high enough ceiling, but id love to see wright given a shot based on how much bad luck he has had with injuries. He may also fit that no-nonsense graft/work rate irish approach…? If schmidt wants size and a 4/6 tweener then I’d probably pick Uru. On the bench I’d have no idea, Wilson if you want to give valetini a rest, and maybe hanigan/wright/uru as 6 replacements.
21 Go to commentsWho the heck is Billy Fulton?
13 Go to commentsCale has all the potential no doubt. So has Harry Wilson except for his dumb arse coach over the last few years who told him just to run at brick walls all the time. Valentini would be devastating at 6. As he was until some idiot thought oh yeah, move our best player to another position. Not mentioning any flightless or thank you names of course. I very much dislike claiming one player is the saviour, because injuries are so prevalent in the game these days as the players are bigger and faster, so the discussion should be who are at least the best two players in one position. For me it’s Harry Wilson and Cale at 8 at the moment with Valentini or Hooper from the Brumbies at 6. Great options. Seru Uru should be in the reserves too. A game changer.
21 Go to commentsScott Barrett is a card waiting to happen, Cane has been out with injury as well as playing in Japan, I think they’ll go with in-Japan-but-still-the-man Savea. Samisoni Taukeaho will be Captain after 2027, so he might get some Captain minutes against an Italy or Japan.
13 Go to commentsDissapointed that after 7 years Crusaders could not have found a coach that believed their system and improved on it. What was he expecting?
6 Go to commentsPlaying the boks twice in a season is the definition of an abusive relationship…Jenny, get help
1 Go to commentsWatching the SA series no AI will motivate players like a Human can cause no matter your IP if you lack the hype to be super human or the level to go to the deep dark places you simply can’t win big games. France Ireland All Blacks and SA will surely get this AI but the end of the day it's luck and believe that matters
22 Go to comments