England coach Eddie Jones has the crushing advantage over his Wallabies counterpart Michael Cheika with five successive wins as the two former Randwick stalwarts do international battle.
Even though Jones has always been a cheeky little bugger, he didn’t have to stoop so low as to mock David Pocock’s neck injury in the lead-up to this weekend’s Twickenham clash.
Jones has treated Pocock in doubt with a wave of the hand.
“Here we go again,” was Jones’ initial reaction. “I hear this every time we play Australia, Pocock’s not going to be fit – he’ll be fit.
“You know that merry-go-round at the Royal Easter Show? It’s a bit like that.”
Not so, Eddie. The last time Pocock was in doubt against England was two years ago when he fractured an eye socket in the first of three Tests to miss the next two.
So mocking the best Wallaby on the paddock, whose neck injury is fast becoming a serious threat to his career, does Jones no credit. Stick to the impressive five wins on the trot and talk up a record sixth.
The only other time the Wallabies have lost five in a row against England was on Jones’ watch as Wallabies coach between 2000 and 2003, the year England, coached by Clive Woodward, won its only Rugby World Cup, beating Australia in extra time.
Jones has plenty of other ammunition to fire at Cheika, who is facing his worst campaign since he took over from Ewen McKenzie for the Northern Hemisphere end-of-year tour in 2014. The Wallabies beat Wales first up, then lost to France, Ireland and England.
In 2015, Cheika’s most successful campaign, the Wallabies reached the RWC final, winning 10 of 12 internationals for an 83 per cent success rate.
In 2016 it was six of 15 for 40 per cent, in 2017 it was seven of 14 for 50 per cent, and this year just four of 12 for 33 per cent.
In the process the Wallabies have fallen to a record low of seventh in the world rankings, lost their first home series against Ireland since 1979 and lost their first international to Wales in a decade after 13 successive wins.
(Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Very painful stats that have been magnified by Pocock’s injury, described by halfback Will Genia as being “busted”, and the fact giant lock Rory Arnold has been sent home with a fractured eye socket sustained at training.
As vital as Pocock is to playing, the medical team won’t risk him in the last game of 2018 leading into a RWC year.
And it hasn’t helped that a stomach bug hit the squad last week, with Israel Folau and Bernard Foley the worst affected, which could explain their poor performances against Italy.
But this Twickenham clash has all the makings of a must-win against the odds for Michael Cheika – just four wins from 13 won’t make for a happy Christmas.
So it would be poetic justice if the cheeky little bugger had to eat his words, whether David Pocock plays or not.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Mush and Masher! Two very good posts guys and it's so good to see rugby folk who take the time and pick up by reading the very stuff about the All Blacks that have put them up on the pedestal they deserve, the very stuff they tend to allow proper rugbyites to appreciate rather than denigrate a truly awesome Rugby side that has taken on and beaten all comers around 90% of the games played and has set the mark for as long as they have and very likely still will! The majority of ill will you read to and about the All Blacks is nothing less than petty jealousy!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Masher: The Jersey is surely a good read and what it does is emphasise exactly what Rugby and the All Blacks mean to New Zealand the different plans, game styles they've perfected, run with, and won with, many, many, times that's the reason that every International Rugby side playing the game use the All Blacks as a Yardstick to base their game plan on! ~ They're innovators of the max variety and their record speaks for itself, so it makes you wonder as to why they are so vilified, methinks it's jealousy, and you can bet all you like that last game will have been really analysed and picked over for ''what the hell happened there!'' against Ireland and the plan will have been devised as to counteract that type of game if it occurs again!
Hertryk
Roar Rookie
jcmasher - I have also read that book ..I highly recommend Legacy by James Kerr. The best book I've read all year... Another thing that came out of "The Jersey" was CONSISTENCY.... Wannabies don't have that either.. and PASSION ....
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Ok, I can’t keep up apparently. Pocock now out? Maybe it was all mind games from cheika. What ever, just waiting off game on now. Without Beale and ACC...
MW7
Guest
It is going to take a miracle for Australia to beat England, let alone in RWC 2019. It's looking like a wasted 4 years.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
So, is this article now too ironic with Pocock selected to play? So Jones was right after all?
AllyOz
Guest
I agree re: Pocock. He is a young man with plenty of other interests, so, depending on his contract status, I would suspect he will retire after the next World Cup and perhaps have a stint in Japan or Rapid Rugby (he did start with the Force and would be just the sort Twiggy is chasing and they are both similar in nature - philanthropic types) to aid the financial situation as he transitions into retirement.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
BZ, that man.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
How loved and respected would a Springboks coach be if they had kept picking props for everything other than their scrummaging skills, culminating in having to go to uncontested scrums in a test at Twickenham? I believe EJ's last professional coaching gig in Australia finished with his Queensland team giving him a performance to be going away with, a 92-3 loss to the Bulls.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
JCM, your comment on doing the simple things very well rang loud and clear for me. My rugby knowledge doesn't run very deep, but I know a thing or two about cricket, and one of the things I know about cricket (at least the long version that lasts more than a couple of days) is that the very best players are the ones with the best fundamentals. Some of the guys I played with and against as a youngster went on to have distinguished careers at state and international level. They were certainly talented, but others in their generation had more natural talent. The ones who succeeded were the guys who put in the extra hours before and after team training sessions, working on perfecting their skills. When your fundamentals are right, your form might wobble at times, but it will always come back. The other side of attention to fundamentals is that when you have spent a lot of time honing your techniques, you can pretty quickly work out the strengths and weaknesses in your opposition, and direct your attack and defence accordingly without needing someone with a headset and a water bottle to tell you.
MaxP
Guest
David, you have claimed some offence from Jones’ comment about Pocock. As a returned serviceman from Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq, the real offence is you, and others in the media, calling a game of rugby a battle (the international coaching battle). Yep, it’s a tough game for those on the field. But a battle? Please. Can we just call it a game? A contest at most? Like many returned service men and women, the hyperbole is really grating. I know you read the comments, so hopefully you’ll pick up on this and help the media tone it down a notch.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
But would they take any notice? They've known about how much the mental skills coach has helped the ABs but still haven't done anything
Don
Roar Rookie
The article about Pocock committing to every lock and the analysis re Pooper was written by Highlander and it was indeed excellent.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Ha Ha Suzy the waitress has emigrated to the UK . ....But seriously Eddie Jones is a pot stirrer . He loves it . Gotta say though he is seriously liked and respected in South Africa . I find the anti Jones sentiment in Australia a little baffling.
Jeff
Guest
David always thinks Folau is about to have a blinder.
Muss
Roar Rookie
I read the book last week and came away totally depressed as a wallaby supporter realising how far away we are from getting near the ABs... should be compulsory reading for the clowns on the board as well as the coach !
Kane
Roar Guru
I thought Folau was going to have a "Blinder" against the Italians because he was back at 15?
Sage
Roar Rookie
This article is premised on people giving a sh#t what Eddie says. Certainly wasted on me
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Oh Lord! (pun intended). Eddie loves winding people up. I'm sure he isn't making light of Pocock's injury. Thought you'd be too experienced a journalist to take the bait.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
I read that book "The Jersey" (a great read by the way) and what came across more than anything else is that NZ keeps it simple but does the simple things very well and so correct; catch and pass, support the player, tackle hard etc. Maybe these coaches should read this book