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Eddie Jones talks Wazza-ball Wales, affection he still has for England
Eddie Jones has admitted his Australia team face a big challenge to stay in the Rugby World Cup when they take on a Wales team inspired by Warren Gatland’s ‘Wazza-ball’ on Sunday night in Lyon.
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Defeat to the Welsh in their Pool C clash will almost certainly spell the end of the Wallabies’ participation in the tournament after their shock 22-15 defeat by Fiji last Sunday in the best game of the competition so far.
It could also lead to the end of Jones’ second spell in charge of the Wallabies with speculation that Jones has already been told he can take charge of the Japan national team after the World Cup if he wants to.
The 63-year-old Australian is coaching his native country for the second time at a World Cup having led them to the final in 2003 where they lost on home soil to England.
Jones admitted that he has been impressed by how his New Zealand counterpart Gatland has transformed the Welsh team’s fortunes during what is also his second spell in charge. “Warren has done a great job there,” he told this week’s episode of the Evening Standard Rugby Podcast.
“He [Gatland] initially went for the young players and then brought the older guys back. He has got them playing that, what do you call it, Wazza-ball – a very distinctive, strong defensive, high kicking game. And once they get in the opposition 50, they play a lot off (Dan) Biggar. He is still a very good player and probably one of the most competitive players in the world.
“Tactically we need to play a little differently,” Jones added. “We have lost our two power forwards (Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou) and they allowed us to play a certain way to get on the front foot, so against Wales we will have to rethink that so we are in the process of coming up with some ideas there.
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“It’s always difficult after a loss, you’ve got to front up and do what you can. As head coach I always take responsibility for the performance. We decided to go with a young squad to rebuild, and sometimes it’s tough for a young squad to respond within games. That’s my responsibility.
“I can remember, though, how England responded in 2007 after losing the first game to South Africa. We have got the opportunity to do something now. These are the weeks as a coach and a player you feel the most humble, so we are looking for a galvanised performance this week.”
Jones also told podcast host Lawrence Dallaglio about the affection he still feels for the England rugby team despite being sacked by the RFU at the end of last year. Jones was appointed head coach of Australia in January after being sacked by the English in December 2022 after seven years in charge.
Both teams played on Sunday with differing results as Australia were beaten by Fiji in Pool C in St Etienne, their first loss to the Fijians in 54 years, before England beat Japan on a humid night in Nice to make it two wins out of two in Pool D.
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“When I watch England I still have a lot of affection for them,” Jones added. “I love the players and I don’t have any bad feelings towards them.
“It’s not really (difficult to support them). I had a great time there for seven years. Imagine an Australian coaching England for seven years. It’s the most contradictory relationship you could have in the world but I loved it and we had some good success even though it didn’t end well.”
- The Evening Standard Rugby Podcast with Lawrence Dallaglio is a weekly podcast that launched in 2021 and is running in partnership with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra during the Rugby World Cup. Click here to listen
Comments on RugbyPass
Playoffs featuring 4 or 6 teams would mean the other teams playing meaningless games for longer and a further drop of interest in Australia. But yes a 12 team competition with 8 teams making finals is ridiculous.
5 Go to commentsJoe's picks will be more interesting than Razors. The dumping of Dave Rennie for Jones has to be one of the worst exec decisions of all time. Joe and Dave have similar styles and personalities, the players should like that. Predicting some success for Aus this year. Well more than last year!
2 Go to commentsHey Ben, Thanks for your opinion article. As a die hard rugby tragic and loyal supporter of the game can I say your article seems a touch negative so I would like to offer a slightly different spin on it. I am assuming that the sole purpose of the Super Rugby competition is not just to be a training camp for the International teams but an independent event and competition in its own right with sponsors, media companies and teams that need a financial return. Now, from this rugby fans perspective, I am enjoying the last few weeks of the competition and enjoying the fact that most teams can still make the play offs and nobody wants the wooden spoon. Most rugby followers would agree to it being a travesty if the Crusaders or the Waratahs now made it to the final but history tells us it is very unlikely with the importance of home ground advantage. Playing each team once and a four team final would give the competition integrity and a level playing field for all teams but I would be surprised if it could satisfy the financial demands of the TV rights. Maybe a six team finals series might be a possible compromise.
5 Go to commentsAll good choices John, even the Tah players ha ha. Others that might be worth a look would be ; Cale, Tom Lynagh, Uru, Keunzle, Anstee and maybe Rory Scott because we need a backup to McReight and he has improved a lot from last year and Tim Ryan.
2 Go to commentsWe only have 12 teams - and probably should only have 10. If we cut it down to 10, had a single round robin format, and only had semi-finals and a grand final, the final game would be on the first weekend of May. Meanwhile the AFL (similar to the NRL) runs until the last weekend of September and starts almost a full month after Super Rugby. At least the players would get plenty of rest!
5 Go to commentsAs article says re Japanese Final. Todd Blackadder up against his old mentor/ coach at Canterbury and the Crusaders , Robbie Deans. Both legends in this part of the world. Richie Mo’unga, ( another legend), playing brilliantly for Toddy’s team.Great to hear.
1 Go to commentsNo doubt Razor will want to kick the 2024 campaign off with a decisive selection of the top match fit players to insure his selection as the appointed coach has maximum impact. We the supporters and critics will settle for nothing less because historically it is what we have become ingrained and accustomed to. With that in mind and the distinct fall from grace of his beloved crusaders we will expect him to stamp his mark in the same way he left his old post.
9 Go to commentsI would've expected a better turn around in response to the changes within the team and its management. Lacking in my opinion is the skill sets that once was and now seemingly vacant within the squads regular front runners. Furthermore there seems to be no set game plan, the accuracy that once was is no more, the quality off the bench were poor matchups and frankly I feel a lot has to do with the coaching. Never thought i’d be critising the sadas to this degree.
5 Go to commentsAverage AB captain by recent standards. Speaks to the wider issue
9 Go to commentsWholesome lad, but no longer test level. At all
9 Go to commentsThis game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to comments