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Why Eddie Jones is the ‘right man’ to turn Wallabies around
After helping the Wallabies retain the Bledisloe Cup in the early 2000s, dual international Mat Rogers “wouldn’t have believed” that Australia wouldn’t win it again for more than two decades.
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The Wallabies won back the prestigious cup with a three-nil series sweep of the All Blacks in 1998. It was the start of something special for the men in gold.
Australia retained the cup for another four years – capping off half a decade of rugby dominance over their neighbouring rivals New Zealand.
For those in their early 20s, it’s somewhat unfathomable.
The All Blacks won back the prestigious cup in 2003, and they haven’t looked back since. New Zealand have been relentless in their pursuit of one of the biggest prizes in rugby for a Kiwi.
It means that much to them, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
Playing in front of more than 83,000 people at the world-famous MCG last weekend, the All Blacks put on a clinic as they ran away with a comfortable 38-7 victory.
Australia showed glimpses of promise and plenty of fight, but it wasn’t nearly enough to send this series to a Bledisloe Cup decider.
The drought continues.
“The way things are going, they need some significant change for it not to be another 20 years,” former Wallaby Mat Rogers said on All Talk with Hello Sport.
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“New Zealand are just a powerhouse.”
The Wallabies have started their new era under coach Eddie Jones with three consecutive defeats, and it doesn’t get any easier for them ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
Australia play the All Blacks again this weekend – this time on New Zealand soil – before taking on World Cup hosts France in Paris at the end of this month.
Many rugby fans would suggest that the Wallabies will go 0-5 under Jones going into their World Cup opener against Georgia.
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But Rogers, who made his Test debut under coach Jones in 2002, isn’t panicking.
The former Wallaby is confident that Rugby Australia has “got the right man at the helm” ahead of more attempts at Bledisloe Cup redemption.
“I think they’ve got the right man at the helm to wrestle it back,” Rogers added. “It’s going to take some time.
“If there’s one thing Eddie Jones can do it’s create an upset in world rugby.
“He got Japan to beat South Africa, that’s unique. That’s a bigger upset than Australia beating New Zealand.
“I think they’ve got the right guy at the helm, I think it’s going to take a little bit of time – he’s still trying to work out who his team (is), who he can use, who he needs, where he needs to fill some gaps.
“Unfortunately he’s got to do it on the world stage because there’s no other place to do it when you’re the Australian coach.
“There are gonna be a few teething issues early.”
The Wallabies take on arch-rivals New Zealand at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Comments on RugbyPass
“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.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 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.
2 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.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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