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The other day, BBC Radio’s 5 Live rugby show had a few interesting tidbits. Perhaps, of most interest to Australian Roarers, were comments by Eddie Jones.
The show is available, even to international audiences, for a few more days on the BBC’s iPlayer site here.
Here are a few of the points raised, if you haven’t had the time to listen to the whole thing:
(1). He thinks this may be one World Cup too early for Australia. The team is promising but still young and winners usually have a team with more caps under the belt.
He also sees Robinson’s injury as a blow up front.
He’s asked whether Genia and Cooper are the best half-back pairing in the world. He replies that they were the best at Super level, and went well against a weak South Africa, but have yet to dominate at Test level. So, he’s a bit guarded on how they’ll go this year.
When asked who he’d choose between Cooper and Carter, Jones notes that you need to win seven games which demands consistency. He says Cooper could win you a World Cup or lose it for you.
Jones also draws attention to Cooper’s turnovers against South Africa and, since unforced errors will be costly in the tournament, he’d go with Carter.
Jones also says South Africa haven’t advanced as much as they would have liked. He points out that Pienaar and Steyn were young four years ago and should have kicked on by now, but questions whether they have developed the necessary consistency for a Cup.
Jones thinks New Zealand should win the Cup but says they could be exposed at lineout and would suffer if anything happened to Carter.
He also wonders whether the All Blacks are starting to over-complicate things and believes they go better keeping things simple.
(2). Jonah Lomu is on the show and he tips Ireland to do well.
Keith Wood says Ireland have a better spirit about them than four years ago, when they were inexplicably under-cooked.
Paul O’Connell has told him that preparations seem to be going much better than before. Wood, however, thinks Ireland still have a mental hurdle to overcome.
Whereas England seem to prosper in tournament rugby, he has reservations about Ireland’s ability to stay focused for seven games.
Lomu also believes that the challenge for any team at the World Cup is finding a squad of players to keep the momentum going rather than just a team to win a particular match.
(3). Jones thinks England are weak at half back.
He doesn’t believe Ben Youngs is a Test quality scrum half, because he struggles when the ball is slow. He also isn’t convinced by fly half Toby Flood, who he believes suffers the same problems.
He says England’s pack will make them competitive, as they are in most World Cups, but they will not win it.
(4). In response, Matt Dawson suspects Jones is playing mind games again, but former England coach Dick Best thinks he has a point.
Best believes Youngs is Test quality but is still inexperienced. He argues that teams can’t win a World Cup without class half backs and notes New Zealand aren’t blessed at number nine.
He also feels Dan Carter more than makes up for this at 10. Best sees Flood as a decent Test fly half, but not world class while he thinks Youngs will be better by the next World Cup.
(5). There’s also a discussion with James Haskell.
After he was released by Stade Francais, Haskell has since announced plans to play a few months in Japan before signing again with Wasps.
He’s been criticised for appearing to put money ahead of his national team chances but the player says choosing Wasps over another French team shows he wants his England place.
Jones says the top Japanese teams are good enough to compete with England’s second-tier club teams but would struggle against a Premiership side.
While he’s very optimistic about the game in Japan, he doesn’t think the the standard will benefit a top player like Haskell.
Keith Wood says Graham Henry once asked him to play in New Zealand after Sean Fitzpatrick was out with injury. He would have loved to do so but it would have meant missing out on a Five Nations (as it was then) so turned it down.
Dick Best believes professionalism means more players will consider doing what Haskell has done at earlier stages of their career.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.