‘I’d look out’: Eddie Jones’ warning for All Blacks ahead of Bledisloe I
The Wallabies may have fallen to their second consecutive loss in as many starts on Saturday night, but it didn’t stop coach Eddie Jones from firing a shot at the All Blacks.
Following months of hype and new-found belief, Australia ushered in their new era under coach Jones with a disastrous defeat to South Africa in Pretoria last weekend.
Other than an early try to world-class winger Marika Koroibete, the men in gold were never in the fight. If this was boxing, the coaching staff would’ve had no choice but to throw in the towel.
But a week is a long time in Test rugby. Once the dust had settled on that staggering 31-point defeat, the Wallabies shifted their focus to their first test on Australian soil this year.
The Wallabies were better without being great against Argentina in Sydney, and looked to have won the Test after a late try to rising star Mark Nawaqanitawase.
But Pumas backrower Juan Martin Gonzalez broke Australian hearts with a try at the death, which handed the visitors a 21-24 victory.
Earlier, the All Blacks sent another statement to the rugby world – backing up their big win over Argentina in Mendoza – with a 35-20 demolition of world champions South Africa in Auckland.
The Wallabies and All Blacks appear to be tracking in two very different direction, but it didn’t stop coach Jones from throwing a quick jab ahead of Bledisloe One later this month.
“In the first two games we scored two super tries early in the game and we move the ball with fluency and quickly, which is how we want to play,” Jones told reporters after the three-point defeat.
“But we’re not able to sustain that at the moment. I could give you a fantastic, plausible reason but you’re not going to believe it so I’m not going to give it to you.
“Whilst it seems like it’s doom and goom at the moment, it’s not.
“(There’s) a fair bit of optimism that we’ll be able to change fairly quickly in the next couple of weeks. If I was the All Blacks I’d look out.”
This was Australia’s first home Test of the year, but it didn’t feel like it at times.
There were plenty of fans at CommBank Stadium, with a sea of gold stretching as far as the eye could see – but a small pocket of Argentine fans made their voices heard.
The passionate Los Pumas supporters were chanting, cheering and singing throughout the contest. It was quite different to the stunned crowd in Mendoza last weekend, who were actually quite quiet.
Australian centre Len Ikitau managed to silence those fans though, if only for a moment, with the opening try of the contest inside the opening 10 minutes.
The Wallabies looked to take some control of the clash, but the visitors were hungry.
Ikitau went off injured which forced an unexpected backline reshuffled – Melbourne Rebels flyhalf Carter Gordon came on at inside centre – and a yellow card to Richie Arnold was another turning point.
Fast forward to the end of the Test, and with just a few minutes left on the clock, it was a four-point game.
But Australia’s poor discipline cost them once again as Los Pumas marching down the field.
The winning score in the 79th minute sent the passionate crowd of Argentine fans into a frenzy. Just when you thought they couldn’t get any louder, they did.
Argentina celebrated as the Wallabies questioned where it all went wrong. Australia were now 0-2 to start their 2023 season, with just three more Test matches to go until the World Cup.
“We’re all really disappointed mate, we put a lot into that but we just couldn’t put enough pressure on the opposition,” Jones said.
“Every time we got into a position to put pressure (on), we either gave the ball back or didn’t defend hard enough so there’s a couple of things we need to fix, which we can fix with a lot of hard work.
“If we’re prepared to do the hard work we’ll get the fix and I’m sure the players will.”
On paper, the Wallabies face an uphill battle to even win a Test before the World Cup in France.
Australia has two Bledisloe Cup Tests coming up, and they’ll then head to Europe to take on the World Cup hosts in Paris.
But coach Jones isn’t worried – it’s not time to panic. The 63-year-old is “100 per cent confident” that the Wallabies can turn it around.
“At the moment it seems like we’re miles away from where we need to be but all of this is going to make us harder and more hungry to get it right.
“We’re a team that needs to change, we know that, and that’s the reason I’m here in the job.
“We’re not seeing the change in terms of results at the moment but we’ll see that.”
The Wallabies take on fierce rivals New Zealand in the opening Bledisloe Cup Test in Melbourne later this month. Following that clash, the men in gold will travel to Dunedin for the reverse fixture.
Comments on RugbyPass
Utter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to comments