'Well done to that fan': Eddie Jones reacts to leaked Wallabies draft
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones made international headlines last weekend after he was caught drafting a potential Wallabies squad during Super Round in Melbourne.
Jones was sitting “with the punters” at AAMI Park, and was spotted writing down team lists for an international camp in April.
An eagle-eyed supporter took a photo of Jones’ Wallabies plans, and shared the image on Twitter – although it has since been deleted.
After an impressive start to the Super Rugby season, rising stars Max Jorgensen and Tom Lynagh appear to be on the cusp of higher honours after featuring in Jones’ plans.
But speaking on his podcast Eddie, Jones reminded rugby fans that it was just a first draft.
Looking to usher in a new era of Australian rugby, Jones expects to make “45 drafts” before naming his first Wallabies squad.
“I’m always doing selections. That (April camp) selections will have 45 drafts, I don’t know what went up on Twitter but by the time I’d finished up, I was already on draft four,: Jones said on Eddie.
“It’s quite inconsequential but you can’t trust anyone these days. Sometimes I’m too trustworthy, I was just sitting put there with the punters because I like it and was watching a game or in-between games that wasn’t really capturing me so I decided to scribble down some names.
“I’ve done another three or four drafts and when we get those assistant coaches in we’ll build that squad up.
“Well done to that fan, they should get a wrap and I’m sure they’re popular on Twitter with their 19 seconds of fame.”
With this year’s Rugby World Cup in France just six months away, the battle for Wallabies jerseys will undoubtedly heat up throughout Super Rugby Pacific.
And there’s no better example than an Australian blockbuster on Saturday.
The competition for places will hit second gear on Saturday as the Brumbies host rivals the Queensland Reds in Canberra.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is expecting a tough challenge against some of the “best players in Australia.”
“They’re a very exciting team to watch, they’ve got a number of players who are dangerous across the park,” he said.
“When you’ve got that many players across the board who are dangerous, it’s too hard to concentrate on them,.. we’re looking forward to that challenge.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments