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Eddie Jones, Scott Robertson agree to coach the Barbarians together
The post-Rugby World Cup era of Eddie Jones coaching the Wallabies against a Scott Roberston-led All Blacks will get off to a cordial start in November when Jones and Roberston come together to coach the Barbarians in a tribute match for Alun Wyn Jones in Cardiff.
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Australia boss Jones coached an AWJ-skippered Baa-Baas side to victory in May over a World XV at Twickenham and they will be reunited in a few months’ time for a match against Warren Gatland’s Wales the weekend after the World Cup final in Paris.
Jones has agreed to coach the invitational side alongside Roberston, the incoming All Blacks coach who will succeed Ian Foster following the upcoming tournament in France. The ex-Crusaders boss was in charge of the Baa-Baas last November along with Ronan O’Gara when they defeated an All Blacks XV in a thrilling contest at Tottenham.
The November 4 timing of this latest Baa-Baas fixture will be debated in Welsh rugby circles, though. Wales versus the Baa-Baas is scheduled to kick off at the Principality at 2:30pm on the Saturday just hours before Scarlets will host Cardiff in a regional URC derby in Llanelli at 5:15pm. The match also falls on the same weekend that Ospreys are set to take on the Sharks in London in their URC round three fixture.
A statement read: “Alun Wyn Jones is poised to grace Principality Stadium’s famous turf one more time, for the Barbarians when they play Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, November 4. The fixture will pay tribute to the world’s most-capped player and former Wales captain, as well as provide a homecoming for Wales after the Rugby World Cup in France.
“A host of other star names are also set to feature for the Baa-Baas with further announcements due to be made soon and the game will pit Warren Gatland and his coaching team against Australia’s Eddie Jones and New Zealand’s Scott Robertson, who will lead the opposition.
“The match will offer rugby fans from all over the globe the chance to pay homage to one of the greatest warriors the game has ever witnessed and give Wales head coach Gatland a chance to build on the World Cup experience as he prepares his side for the 2024 Guinness Six Nations campaign.
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“Now playing for Toulon in the Top 14, Alun Wyn Jones won 158 caps for Wales and a further 12 for the British and Irish Lions on four tours between 2009-2021, making him the world’s most-capped player with 170 caps. He captained Wales 48 times, led the Lions in the third Test in Australia in 2013 and in the three Tests in South Africa in 2021.”
Eddie Jones said: “Principality Stadium is one of the best places in the world to play rugby and when you add the passion and fervour of a Welsh crowd and the unique and exciting brand of rugby the Barbarians are famous for, we have a match in prospect that will be the envy of fans around the globe.”
Robertson added: “Alun Wyn will have been the first name on many team sheets for many years and I’m not only looking forward to meeting him and coaching him but also watching him in his final dance with a passionate crowd. It’s an honour and a privilege to be asked to coach the Barbarians and I can’t think of a better place to do it than in Cardiff against Wales.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy 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!
5 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 …
33 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.
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