'Going to be a hell of a team': Jones adamant Wallabies can take World Cup by storm despite 0-4 start

Putting down names doesn’t make your point. I have stated above who can be considered very near to top in their positions. Also don’t think many would agree Taukeiaho is third string. I feel you are splitting hairs over top AB players to dismiss what the Wallabies achieved. ALB, Retallick, Finga’anuku, Whitelock, Cane, Jordan, Aaron Smith, RM, Taukeiaho, Ardie were all on the field and a few months ago would have been considered the no. 1 players in their positions. So even taking out Aaron Smith and RM, that is arguably 7 of the best we have. My point is simply saying 10-12 of the top players were missing is a stretch. And there is not the drop off as you are suggesting. So I think your point is a bit of a cheap shot and not particularly accurate.

Players out: Top Front row 3 Barretts Reiko Frizell Mark Talea And some on the bench. :thumbup:

Are there 80 minute props still around?

Well, what exactly are you even saying in your comment other than 'Eddie is not great'? I donn't really see many evidence-backed points to counter, just a sequence of blunt accusations. For instance, you claim that the selections are 'garbage' but decline to offer alternatives. You contradict yourself by asserting that our defensive problems come down to having a League player as a defensive coach (wilfully ignoring successful coaches like Shaun Edwards) while also accepting that the defensive coaching only began last week (and to make it worse, you completely ignore the Wallabies' improved defensive performance in Saturday's game). How about you dig a little deeper when making criticisms? How about you actually engage with alternative viewpoints and consider that your poorly worded, evidence-lacking, meaningless criticism is itself a blight on the game? How about wondering whether you might be a contributor to cancerous smog of pessimism and negativity that threatens choke out this game once and for all in this country? And as for personal attacks: Let it be clear that the only issue I have is with the stupid things you say, not you.

A knee-jerk reaction, hardly. Your response is simply a personal attack on someone with a view different to your own. The fact you completely ignore all the points I make and cherry pick one, as to why I hold my opinion speaks volumes. All you focus on is my comment with respect to his demise his as the English coach and reply to that. You are entitled to your opinion, but your response doesn’t change any of the points I made for all the words you typed.

Mate, I don't think you can deny Eddie's successful history and professionalism. There's a reason he's so highly rated; his renown was built on the back of hard work and success. Just because the English system decided to cannibalise itself when they had him at the helm doesn't mean that the narratives regarding Eddie's and England's decline are correct. I understand it can be hard to resist the sugary spoon-food of the English press, but sometimes it is wise to purse your lips and decline the aeroplane. Dominant narratives are just narratives -- stories, tales, fables, myths -- it doesn't matter what you call them, at the end of the day the slander which Eddie endured was the opinion of a cynical press (along with some high-profile figures like Clive Woodward) who refused to view England's losses with nuance. Cohesion takes time to build but good eyes can see the process of its construction; Australia's last test was a major improvement for those who have been given their due optometry. Hooper's a revelation at 6, Carter Gordon and Tate McDermott are being given legitimate time in the saddle representing a genuine investment in youth and the future of Australian Rugby, there's now a good-looking defensive system that seems to be coming together (evidenced by the subdued games of Will Jordan and Shaun Stevenson), genuine leaps of improvement each time we play, and importantly a willingness to ignore the unhelpful and cynical cries of knee-jerk fans like you. Give it time, and we will see who eats their words.

Hmm. I don't like Eddie's style either but, with respect, the ABs still fielded a bunch of regular starters, including some who are considered by many to be the best in their positions in the world. Ardie Savea, Whitelock, Retallick, Samsone T, Will Jordan, Ennor... And Dmac was the best 10 throughout the Super season. So, downplay that performance all you like, but the Wallabies should have won it (Cooper holds on and the game was probably ours), and it was played in Dunedin. That's no small feat. If we manage our injuries, and our front row holds up, we're a chance.

Well I'm very underwhelmed with everything EJ has done so far. He reminds me a lot of Cheika as a coach whom I could never fathom his selections or gameplan; or both. Nothing ever made sense on-field or off it while the losses accumulated and the slide down the rankings continued. Then there was the issue of his mouth in the media. This made him look more like a nutter than a coach. At least with Rennie you could reasonably follow his thinking with selections and gameplan. The problem was the players could never deliver the basics on the field, so I came to the view it was the cattle and their scarred mental aptitude for their Test rugby malaise. Under EJ, despite having some overseas players in the squad, I'm not seeing anything too much different in 2023 than in the last 10-20 years. A few good patches of footie in 20-30 minute blocks here and there, but defeats are still predominantly the outcome. I think Wallaby fans are delusional if they believe EJ can get the Wallabies to win RWC23. If we can get a solid, winning 80 minute performance against a higher ranked side, that will be a major step forward. Can the Wallabies put 2 quality winning games together against top opposition? Well, not for a long time; let alone the 3 needed to win the trophy after the pool games; presuming we can do that, and I'm only 50:50 on that one, as the Wallabies capacity to self-implode has grown, not diminished over time. EJ is all BS, bluster and bulldog. I've already switched off every time he opens his mouth.

It makes so much sense you know in your bones it isn't going to happen :(

Quade Cooper, Nick White of James Slipper as they don't deserve to be there on any basis, and there are more solid backup options that are younger. They are killing us when they come off the bench. Id rather we take Donaldson and J. Gordon as 9-10 back ups as more consistent.

My Squad for France. I have broken into two squads of XV and added 3 others to get to the 33 PlayersNotably, I have not taken-Quade Cooper, Nick White of James Slipper as they really don't deserve to be there on any basis, and there are more solid backup options that are younger. Slipper should join the squad as an additional forwards coach.Biscuitmans Squad for FranceFirst XV1-Bell2-Porecki3-Fa’amausili4-Frost5-Skelton6-T.Hooper7-M.Hooper8-Valentini9-T.McDermott10-C.Gordon11-Korebete12-Serevi13-Perese14-Nawaqantawase15-KellawaySecond XV1-T.Tupoa2-M Faessler 3-Nonggorr4-R.Arnold5-M.Phillip6-R.Leota7-McReight8-Gleeson9-J.Gordon10-B.Donaldson11-C.Toole12-L.Foketi13-J. Petaia14-D Pietsch15-J.CampbellThree additional1.T Lambert2.H. Wilson3.J.Walton

Good points here

Not quite 12. ALB is first string, so is Cane and both Retallick and Whitelock are first string and Fainga’anuku is class.one could also argue that Taukeiaho is also top drawer (although he had a poor game by his usual standards). In my humble opinion they had Will Jordan and Stevenson back to front. Put Jordan on the wing and Stevenson at fullback. So they had 6 first string players to start and 7 at the end. Meaning you could argue half the team… and yes DMacs tactical kicking was not on point, which hurt them in the first half and why he was correctly subbed. I am also no fan of Christie. Aaron Smith and DMac are much more formidable. I would have preferred to see Reigate and DMac… although that being said DMacs tactical kicking was just handing the ball back to the Wallabies who were full of running and the AB defence wasn’t up to the task.

With all due respect, the Wallabies were going backwards against the ABs third string front row. Their 1st string were sitting down. Size of the player does not get it done. Technique is the difference. Skelton is the biggest guy on the field, but Scott Barrett or Whitelock have greater skill. From my perspective Samu should be starting for the Wallabies, he is a very smart player. The Wallabies were awesome in the first half. But it took two of the top team players to turn the game. Twelve were watching.

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What a load of... kick away all posession... a complete 180 now to we want to run the ball, this is the Aussie way. Selections which provide no support fpr a man breaking the line even though you select linebreakers... Eddie's resume... Japan beat South Africa, Tonga and Scotland beat Australia and Argentina beat the AB's, but you don't hear those coaches being touted as the best. He was one of a number of assistant coaches for the Bok who won the last RWC. You may put that on Eddies resume, but in truth its not his. Eddie won games at the beginning of his tenure for England, but lost everyone and left in disgrace by the end. He comes in signalling he is going to put teams like the Bok and ABs to the sword and yet they run out playing confused incohesive footy against second string AB and Bok teams. Great gameplan that. Oh sorry he needs to work out what the players are capable of, because he has only watched a full season of them playing, multiple squad meets and training sessions and chats with their coaches and the players themselves. He has a coaching team with a league player as defence coach who has zero experience in union and now we hear they haven't done any work on defence, its mostly been conditioning. Based on that alone, I am not inclined to think he is up to it. He's good in the media and talking players up... but wrt gameplans and selections.. yes they are garbage. If they weren't he wouldnt have completely flipped it on its head and move to a more balanced backrow. Great coach though. They are slowly learning what they can and can't do. If that wasn't obvious after a year of watching them and working with them in squads... then no I am not imclined to think he is the great coach you do.

"...you put an absolute garbage gameplan together and poor selections". The game plan was absolute garbage? You're not even slightly inclined to think maybe he just might know what he's doing and be good at his job? Presumably you are aware of his record of success? He is trying to get his new team to change how they play into what he thinks is the best form of rugby. He and they are learning to what extent they are and aren't capable of playing that way; how much he needs to adjust his plans and how much they need to adjust how they play. Not as deep a list as England's and (especially) not as many good kickers among the backs. As for the talk, he is who he is. If he stopped running his mouth and sticking up for his players; if he just went a steady, plain Rennie-style approach what would his players think? He's sticking up for them, backing them, but not sugarcoating things. He's got the history and resumé where he should get the benefit of the doubt

Well Eddie could say one of 3 things ..1. Its going to be a hell of a team .2. Its going to be a shyte team 3. He can say nothing ...But its Eddie .He doesn't do the nothing stuff . :laughing:

Hey Noodles. I definitely wasn't having a crack at you, but the sentiment which I keep reading. Jones wasn't to blame, but he played into it. Right now the players seem to be selecting themselves and the game plan. Lets say ypu could put on ypu best forward pack, Phillips, Rodda, Frost, Faessler, Bell, Tupou, AAA, McReight / Hooper, Valentini and Tom Hooper and backs inclding Cooper / Gordon, Kerevi/Foketi Ikatau/Petaia, Marky Mark, Koirobete, Kellaway/Wright... the gameplan they started with was still wrong. But instead of a balanced team, he bought in players with limited skillsets and played a gameplan which only he understood. After watching an entire season of super rugby and multiple camps, this what we get from this world class coach. Four games in, now waiting for the pool game or a second string French side to record a win is acceptable. And now this, we can definitely win the RWC. This is an amazing team.. please. The players are the only ones with any integrity right now in my humble opinion. Certainly not Hamish and Eddie.