‘He’ll contribute mate’: Why Eddie Jones picked teen Max Jorgensen for RWC
Teenage sensation Max Jorgensen has been given an early birthday gift from Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, and there could be more surprises and honours on the way.
Jorgensen will celebrate his 19th birthday about a week before the Wallabies’ World Cup opener against Georgia at Stade de France.
Whether it’s in that Test – pending injury, of course – or later on in the tournament, the teenager will likely make his Wallabies debut on the biggest stage in rugby union.
When the Wallabies revealed their 33-man squad for the upcoming World Cup, Jorgensen was named as one of the five outside backs.
Jorgensen, along with halfback Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, has come from outside the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship squad to win over selectors.
“He’s such a versatile player, he can play fullback or wing equally,” coach Jones told reporters on Thursday evening.
“He is a player of the future for Australian rugby and we want to give him the opportunity to go to this World Cup.
“He’ll contribute mate. Every time he gets on the field, he’ll play well for us, but then he’ll take that experience on to the next World Cup.”
Mere moments after the squad was announced, coach Jones spoke with former Wallaby Morgan Turinui on Stan Sport in Darwin.
The youthful squad raised plenty of questions about the direction of this Australian team, and fans wanted answers.
With no room for veterans Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper, as well as injured centre Len Ikitau, coach Jones has taken his team in a different direction.
But there’s a reason to be excited if you’re a Wallabies fan. This team is just getting started.
“Jorgensen, I thought during the Super Rugby season he was one of the standout players so we always had our eyes on him,” Jones mentioned on Stan Sport.
“He’s come through a pretty rigid rehab and he should be fit to play in two or three weeks.”
Earlier this year, as rugby fans will undoubtedly remember, an eagle-eyed fan spotted coach Jones drafting a Wallabies squad during Super Round in Melbourne.
Jones, who was sitting in the stands at AAMI Park, was snapped writing down names. Some of those players have made the grade, while others have fallen short of selection.
“I put that dummy squad out at Melbourne Rebels, when I was having a meat pie watching the Rebels play,” Jones said during a press conference.
“There’s been some players come from outside the thinking, players I really didn’t know about.
“Heard about Jorgensen, heard about him at schoolboys, but you hear a lot of players at the schoolboys level and he was impressive at Super Rugby.
“I think I’d be about 70 per cent of what we knew and 30 per cent different.”
The Wallabies have one warmup Test before their World Cup opener, and it’s a big one. In fact, it doesn’t get much tougher.
Australia take on World Cup hosts and favourites France in Paris later this month.
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 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!
3 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.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments