1
Eddie Jones’ warning for All Blacks before ‘real battle’ with France
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has warned the All Blacks that “they’ve got two weeks” to get ready for a red-hot France side who recorded an emphatic win over Australia on Sunday evening.
ADVERTISEMENT
The All Blacks were unbeaten going into Friday’s titanic battle with fierce rivals South Africa at Twickenham. Playing in front of more than 80,000, it was a fairly one-sided contest from minute one.
South Africa dominated the possession and territory battle for the opening quarter of that Test, but failed to turn their attacking pressure into points – for a while, at least.
Tries to captain Siya Kolisi and wing Kurt-Lee Arendse – as well as a second yellow card to All Black Scott Barrett, which saw the lock sent off – saw the Boks take a hard-earned lead into the break.
But their best was yet to come. Playing with a one-man advantage, the Boks put on a show, and sent a message to the rugby world ahead of the upcoming tournament in France.
They ended up winning that Test 35-7, which was a record defeat for the All Blacks. Following their unbeaten run in The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup, it’s a concerning fall from grace.
Two days later, the All Blacks’ first opponent at the Rugby World Cup took the field against Eddie Jones’ Wallabies. Led by captain Antoine Dupont, Les Bleus were met with a deafening cheer as they ran out onto Stade de France.
ADVERTISEMENT
Australia showed plenty of potential, once again, but were no match for France on the scoreboard. France scored four tries to three as they ran away with a 41-17 win.
As Wallabies coach Eddie Jones explained, it sets up “a real battle” at the same venue in next month’s Rugby World Cup opener.
“I’m sure (coach Fabian Galthie) knows how to do that, he doesn’t need advice from me,” Jones said when asked about what France needs to do to beat the All Blacks.
“France look ready to play, New Zealand on Friday night didn’t look ready to play. They’ve just travelled over, probably haven’t had much training. Their timing, rhythm of the game was off. They’ve got two weeks to get ready now.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The game at the moment, as we saw today, the ability to get in the opposition’s 22 and then convert that into points is massively important. It’s become almost the game.
“You’ve got now, almost a game in the 22 and a game outside of the 22, and that game in the 22, you’ve got to get points for it.
‘New Zealand were good at that in The Rugby Championship, France are good at doing that. It’s going to be a real battle, mate, a real battle.
“What a great way to start the tournament. I’m sure if they could build another stadium on top of this they would. They’d get 160,000 in there.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
41 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
41 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
41 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
39 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“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.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 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.
4 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.
41 Go to comments