1
‘We have a young team’: Eddie Jones apologises for Wallabies’ record defeat
With the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup dream now all but over, coach Eddie Jones has apologised to Australian supporters after Sunday night’s catastrophic 40-6 defeat to Wales in Lyon.
ADVERTISEMENT
Playing in front of more than 55,000 vibrant fans at OL Stadium, Jones’ Wallabies fell to their seventh loss in eight tests with their worst-ever defeat at a Rugby World Cup.
The Wallabies couldn’t have started the World Cup showdown any worse. Captain David Porecki was penalties after just 14 seconds, and Wales halfback Gareth Davies scored a couple of minutes later.
Two Ben Donaldson penalty goals saw Australia reduce the deficit to one point, but it was all Wales from there. Cymru booked their place in the quarters while the Wallabies’ campaign is likely over.
Having lost to Fiji and now Wales in pool play, Australia are looking at a once unfathomable pool play exit at a Rugby World Cup.
“Firstly, I would just like to apologise to all the Australian supporters,” Jones said on Sunday.
“Our performance was not up to the standard that was required. I apologise for that. I take full responsibility for it. We are disappointed, we have a young team in there very disappointed.
ADVERTISEMENT
“They tried their hearts out but unfortunately at the moment, we don’t have consistency in our play to put pressure on teams like Wales. We do some good things and then fall away. It’s very disappointing.”
Former Wallaby wing Drew Mitchell was seen in the crowd shaking his head as the pain and frustration of the defeat began to sink in.
This was one of the darkest days in the history of Australian rugby. Fans may have feared that this day would come, but for it to actually be here is gut-wrenching for the Wallabies.
The Wallabies’ post-match results graphic on X has received more than 950 comments and 730 reposts at the time of writing, with many supporters expressing their disappointment.
ADVERTISEMENT
But coach Jones still believes “I have got the ability to run things around” moving forward, although his future is somewhat uncertain following a report of an interview for the Japan head coach job.
“I think I have got the ability to turn things around. I was hoping we would be able to do it by now but we haven’t been able to,” Jones added.
“I take full responsibility, I haven’t done a good enough job and I am bloody disappointed about that.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Andy Goode cant kick to 12
161 Go to commentsDoxed himself. Great work Johnny. You are well suited to the Saders
1 Go to comments_Best game players _
1 Go to commentsWho's Jarrad Hohepa?
1 Go to commentsSo let me get this straight. Say you have the dominant scrum. You are 99% sure you can go for a scrum pushover try on the line to win the game. The opposition knows it too. They give away a silly tap kick instead. You are now not allowed to scrum. This is ridiculous! *%@ing the game up as usual! The fact that the attacking teams are not allowed to scrum from a held up over the line is just as ridiculous. Really world rugby? Careful people might start a rebel league called True Rugby or Real Rugby.
76 Go to comments12 subs during a game? How has that been allowed to happen NB? I hate when the game goes in this monopolistic direction closing up shop, it just becomes non sport. Btw have you seen anything of how Liam Coltman was tracking for Lyon? He has just signed to return to Otago though we have a couple of young hookers developing here. He was a popular gentle natured character down here and I’m glad to see him back but maybe he will be a mentor primarily?
4 Go to commentsGreat breakdown and the global politics always confuses me a little. The southern hemisphere seems to be left out a bit but I wouldn’t even know where to start with fixing it. Club challenge could be a step in the right direction
4 Go to commentsSince he coached Free state, from that time onwards, I maintained he was the coach for the Boks. A nice, no nonsense guy with an excellent brain, who gets results.
11 Go to commentswell - they only played against 14 men and had the TMO team on their side - and still should have lost… so actually that makes sense.
33 Go to commentsSouthern hemisphere Rugby is exactly that, boring. Northern Hemisphere Rugby is soooo much more entertaining and better with better players.
2 Go to commentsIf he was to be cited for a dangerous behavior, then it’s natural that he should be. Then NTamack too, yes? And I’ll add a good whataboutism - Yeandle eye-gouging on Richie Arnold: not cited. Eye-gouging. Not high tackle. Eye-gouging. It was on French TV, with French TV directors.
5 Go to commentsReally poorly written rambling piece ..
4 Go to commentsIt was so boring
2 Go to commentspersonally I’d go with : 1. France 2. NZ 3. England 4. Ireland 5. Scotland
33 Go to commentsAndy everything becomes easier with experience therefor counting etc straight after a match becomes easier when you have 100+ caps vs 17 which is the experience you speak from.
161 Go to commentsGetting rid of the Dupont Law is a good thing and ought to have been done months ago! Officially getting rid of the croc roll is a good thing. The law about no scrums from a short arm is well intended in terms of speeding the game up but it’s an overreaction to a clever yet calculated gamble that could have blow up in South Africa’s face if they conceded a penalty from the scrum that was set after Willemse took claimed the mark in the World Cup QF.
76 Go to commentsRassie The GOAT
11 Go to commentsOf their 5 big matches in RWC Scotland and NZ were the easiest. They took a 12-3 lead against NZ and after the red decided it was best to hold the lead and take chances that came. None came and it was tight but they dug a lot deeper in the other two knock out matches. They had trounced NZ in Twickenham in a fixture that NZ must now regret. Psychology was clearly with SA in the final as a result.
33 Go to commentsMy favourite line/exchanges from Chasing the Sun 2. News headline: “SA. The last hurdle in ABs World Cup glory”. Something like that. “You’re all just a hurdle. A hop, skip and a jump”. Coming from Rassie and Jacque. Basically - nobody thinks you’re going to win. You’re just a pushover team. Nobody respects you. When the camera shows the players faces, you can see the effect. You can see the rev meters (die moer metertjies) firing up. Mitchell said he felt it prior to the 19 final. He said to Eddie watching the teams warming up that it was going to be a tough day at the office. Wave a red flag in front of South African, and you can expect a reaction. This is not unique - many teams rev themselves. And Bok teams in particular. With horrific consequences (discipline, poor thinking under pressure) because that’s the drawback to using emotion right? But what this Bok team does better than many since 2007 is channel the emotion and stay on task. Despite the emotion. Why, because while Rassie might play mind games - he talks about creating a safe environment. Listen to his recent honorary doctorate acceptance speech. While he uses psychology he creates psychological safety. He’s a damn fine coach. Can’t wait for Pretoria. It’s going to be a hummer.
11 Go to commentsWhat Rassie does for SA is big. It has helped people to unite and see we can win with the right people in place.
11 Go to comments