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‘We are on track’: What Eddie Jones expects from Wallabies’ World Cup rival
Following a disappointing Rugby Championship campaign, the Wallabies fell to their fifth loss from as many starts under coach Eddie Jones when they came up against France last weekend.
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The Wallabies showed plenty of fight, passion and character, but the taste of sweet, sweet victory continues to allude the young side.
But a Rugby World Cup beckons and the Aussies believe they’re “on track.”
The Wallabies will begin their quest for rugby immortality against Georgia at Stade de France on September 10. Georgia are a team on the rise, and they won’t go down without a fight.
Now sitting just two places behind the Wallabies on World Rugby’s rankings, Georgia has come a long way since the tournament in Japan four years ago.
Georgia beat Italy in Batumi just over a year ago and Wales in Cardiff last November, but they’ll be eager to create more history in France.
“They’ve changed their game a little bit,” Wallabies coach Eddie Jones told reporters. “They play very much like France; very high-kicking team.
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“I had a wonderful dinner in Paris on Wednesday night and this French guy came up to me and he said, ‘I love how France play now. I love how they play because they don’t kick the ball anymore.’ They’re the highest-kicking side in the world.
“People have perceptions of how teams play. When you’re winning, the perception is a positive perception.
“Georgia play a very similar game to France, 10 of their players play in the leagues in France – mostly in Top 14.
“They have a very significant French influence so they kick a lot, they contest hard at the breakdown, and they’ve developed some fantastic counter-attacking skills.
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“I won’t try to pronounce the name of the 15 or the nine but they’re very good attacking players.
“The perception of Georgia was that they’re a hard scrummaging, hard mauling, gritty team, and there’s still elements of that but they’ve changed their game considerably.”
Australia have been cast aside by many rugby fans as pretenders ahead of the Rugby World Cup, rather than the contenders that the once international powerhouse was.
The Wallabies are ranked ninth in the world – their lowest place ever on the World Rugby list – and coach Jones has picked a young team to turn the Aussies’ fortunes around on the sport’s biggest stage.
Rising star Carter Gordon is the only flyhalf in the squad, and electric halfback Tate McDermott is expected to play plenty of minutes in the No. 9 jersey.
This is a team with plenty of potential, but whether they have what it takes to challenge for World Cup glory remains to be seen. But the Wallabies are just taking it one game at a time.
“The only thing we have to worry about is Georgia in 10 days’ time,” Jones added.
“Are we on track for Georgia? Yes, we are on track for Georgia. Then after we deal with Georgia we get on track for the next game, that’s all we have to worry about.
“Those things are for you guys to worry about, not for us.”
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
22 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
22 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’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.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 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.
42 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.
45 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.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 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.
7 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
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