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Expect the New Zealand economy to be booming this week, mate, after Eddie Jones’ hot air bubble burst like a balloon with the Wallabies walloped in Melbourne.
The Australian coach is now 0-3 in his comeback since replacing Dave Rennie – his zero percent win record looking a lot shakier than the 38 per cent that got Rennie sacked. With New Zealand in Dunedin and France in Paris to come before the World Cup match against Georgia it’s hard to see matters improving any time soon.
Jones was at his bullish best after this disappointing loss.
“Where’s there’s life there’s hope. I’ve coached teams like this before and you can turn it around,” said Jones.
“I saw enough today to know that we can be bloody good team. You’re sitting there thinking shit what’s his bloke talking about? But I’m telling you boys, we can turn it around and be a very good team.
“So for the fans, they got to keep being hopeful. Keep praying, whatever God they’ve got, keep praying to them that we turn it around. We will.”
Jones has opted for a front foot verbal attack and there were plenty of fans gleefully taking to social media to give him a lashing in the wake of this latest disappointment. It’s not just Kiwi supporters who were upset at his claims that a Wallabies win would sink their economy – on reflection perhaps not the funniest joke a multi millionaire footy coach could make in a time of hardship for many across the ditch and at home.
Jordan Petaia of the Wallabies tackles Jordie Barrett . (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
On the field the All Blacks are booming. Australia is starting look like a third world rugby country.
And it’s not just that jibe that was looking silly on Saturday night. Two weeks ago, after his team blew the lead to lose to Argentina, Jones warned New Zealand to “look out”. That they did – no sign of arrogance or complacency on show as they masterfully absorbed Australia’s second half pressure before turning on the style.
It’s to the immense credit of the All Blacks players interviewed after the game – especially the gracious Ardie Savea who sent thoughts and prayers to two injured Wallabies Allan Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou – that none of them reminded Jones of his bullishness ahead of this game.
“Good fun” was how Will Jordan described it and for Kiwi fans it was that.
Social media, of course, wasn’t so forgiving as Jones started trending on Twitter as the All Blacks points tally mounted in the second half.
Former England international Andy Goode was the most scathing.
The preposterous positivity of Jones in the pre-match was in stark contrast to the words coming from his shattered team afterwards.
He’s trying to make them believe – and from Nic White to James Slipper they are prattling on about having faith and wanting fans to stick with them. But there can’t be many fans left who see this turning out okay in France.
The straight talking Tate McDermott is almost an anti-Eddie in his clarity and commonsense.
“Gutted. Just disappointed. 83000 people showed up to support us and we didn’t give them much,” was about all the Reds No.9 could muster.
“It’s hard. We let down all the Melbourne people. We’ve let down Eddie and we let down Australia. They’re a great side. To beat them you have to be brilliant,” added Angus Bell.
Allan Alaalatoa. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Whitey wants your faith.
“A huge crowd came out and we let them down. Tonight hurts (but) we have a World Cup at the end of the year and we have to move on quick.
“At the moment we’re not getting a complete performance, there were a couple of tries we kind of gifted them. It bloody hurts but we’ll build and fine those good areas, continue to work hard. We’ve got to keep building – we’ve got have faith. It’s hard at the moment. It’s hard for fans but stay with us we’ll keep working.”
There have been suggestions that Jones flogged his players in training over the past two weeks and this is all part of an elaborate rope-a-dope strategy that won’t be completely apparent until the RWC knock out stages.
There are some experts who see green shoots despite the losses.
“All the Wallabies fans and players should be gutted,” said World Cup winner Tim Horan.
“No one wants to see the Wallabies beaten by that much. But I saw enough in 56 minutes to give me and hopefully the fans, hope leading into next Saturday and the World Cup.
“I thought they were more physical at the breakdown, defence was a lot better , and they needed to score a try in that 16 minute in the second half.”
He praised the work of Izzy Perese and Jordie Petaia.
“It’s a bit like a racehorse. They’ll need a few more matches but be better for the run after tonight.”
“Let’s call it what it is,” said former Wallaby Drew Mitchell. “It’s disappointing. It’s not where we want to be and where we need to be at this point of a campaign this close to a World Cup.
“It’s time to pick and stick. Eddie Jones needs to pick his best XV and give them some time together in these next two Test matches to start getting some combination and cohesiveness together.”