How Eddie Jones will keep players 'on edge' this season
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham says Eddie Jones’ all-seeing eye will keep Super Rugby Pacific players “on edge” as they bid to secure a spot in the Wallabies’ World Cup squad.
With just five Tests before Jones has to announce his squad for the 2023 edition in France, the Australia coach has rammed home how club form will inform his selection.
Australian players will have their first chance to impress the new Wallabies boss when the NSW Waratahs and Brumbies kick off the season on Friday, February 24.
Strong recruitment from the Waratahs, Western Force and Melbourne Rebels should help them push the Brumbies and Queensland Reds – Australia’s strongest outfits in recent years – for numbers in the Wallabies squad.
Larkham believes the atmosphere created by Jones’ appointment will keep players on their toes, with past heroics carrying little sway with Australia’s head coach.
“It’s going to be a challenge for the guys who probably thought they were secured of a spot for the World Cup,” Larkham told AAP on Wednesday.
“Guys are going to be on edge because they are going to be judged to the nth degree.
“Eddie is one of those coaches that really looks at a player’s performance with a fine tooth comb and he does a lot of background checking on his players.
“The players aren’t going to be cognisant of what Eddie is looking for, but at some stage he’ll definitely be giving them feedback.”
Places are up for grabs across the board, but the main questions surround the five-eighth and fullback roles.
Jones’ predecessor Dave Rennie never settled on a combination in those two positions as he rotated through a No.10 and No.15 throughout 2022 with little success.
The halfback berth is also no guarantee, with the Reds’ Tate McDermott and Waratahs captain Jake Gordon breathing down the neck of the Brumbies’ Nic White for the starting spot.
“It’s not only a big year for me, it’s a big year for everyone,” said McDermott.
One of the few men guaranteed a spot on the plane to France – providing he avoids injury – is prop Allan Alaalatoa.
The Brumbies tighthead, who captained the Wallabies for the first time last year, believes Jones’ influence will stoke the fire in the domestic game.
“I think you’ll see a lift across the board in a World Cup year,” Alaalatoa said.
“With a new coach, there’s a lot of positions up for grabs.
“There’s definitely nerves because you’re unsure, but there’s an excitement in having a coach who knows how to win.”
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