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Wales coach Warren Gatland has been unable to resist a little dig at Eddie Jones and his initial failures to rejuvenate the Wallabies as the pre-World Cup war of words begins to crank into gear.
Gatland, whose men will be tackling Australia in a key group-stage match, admitted on Thursday to being surprised at selection “curveballs” thrown by Jones in his squad announced for the tournament in France.
The New Zealander was also asked what he thought of Jones’s bullish comments, following the Wallabies’ second-straight loss to the All Blacks and a winless Rugby Championship, that Australia could “100 per cent” still win the World Cup.
“As a matter of fact, I think we will,” Jones had added in typically ebullient fashion. “If I could bet on it, I would, but I think you get in trouble if you bet.”
Those observations met with a wry response from his old trans-Tasman rival on Thursday.
“He [Eddie] was pretty confident he was going to beat South Africa and New Zealand as well,” noted Gatland.
“He’s spoken really positively about what they are capable of doing. Eddie talked about smash and grab in the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe.
“Maybe part two of that will work – but part one hasn’t come off.”
Of the selection which Jones’ youthful World Cup squad announced on Thursday, which features only one recognised specialist fly-half and no place for former captain Michael Hooper and mercurial No.10 Quade Cooper, Gatland added: “Will Skelton as captain was a little bit of a surprise.
“He [Eddie] seems comfortable with throwing a few curve-balls in there.”
Meanwhile, Gatland was confident his key back-row forward Taulupe Faletau will be available for the World Cup.
Wales’ Warren Gatland, and England’s Eddie Jones look on during the 6 Nations Launch event at the Hurlingham Club in west London on January 23, 2019. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
The Cardiff No.8 will play no part in the warm-up schedule as he continues his recovery from a calf injury but Gatland offered a promising longer-term report of his chances of being ready for the group stages, which will feature the match against Australia in Lyon on September 24.
“He trained pretty well today, he is not feeling anything in his calf, so we are pretty confident he is available for selection,” said Gatland.
“I am expecting a group of players who are desperate to perform (on Saturday). It is a good situation to be in.”
Gatland had also enjoyed stirring the pot at the weekend after his side had beaten England at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, suggesting Wales were “too fit for them” and that “some of the English forwards were blowing a bit just before halftime”.
It left England coach Steve Borthwick responding on Thursday before the return fixture at Twickenham this weekend that he was satisfied with his team’s conditioning.
He says England are on track to be ready for the World Cup under the guidance of Aled Walters, who acted as South Africa’s head of conditioning for their triumph in 2019.
“The programme is very specific and direct for what we need to do with the players we have,” Borthwick said.
“In Aled Walters, with his experience of getting a team right to win a World Cup, we’ve got a guy who’s proven to get a team together at the right time.”
Winger Henry Arundell has overcome a hamstring injury and will start for England in their Rugby World Cup warm-up rematch with Wales at Twickenham on Saturday as coach Steve Borthwick searches for the right attacking formula for his side.
England have managed to score two tries in their last three Tests and looked fresh out of ideas in a dismal 20-9 defeat to Wales in Cardiff last weekend.
The 20-year-old Arundell’s electric running style makes him a crowd-pleasing option, but key will be working him into space against a Welsh defence that scrambled well last time out.
Fullback Freddie Steward and the returning wing Elliot Daly, in his first appearance since the Six Nations in 2022, make up what is on paper a potent back three.
Ollie Lawrence and Joe Marchant, one of the few stand-out performers from the defeat in Wales, are the centre pairing.
Captain Owen Farrell is back at five-eighth, with Jack van Poortvliet the halfback.
Powerful No.8 Billy Vunipola is back in the side and Courtney Lawes and Ben Earl are the two flankers. Earl will earn a first start after his 15 previous caps all came off the bench. Maro Itoje and George Martin make up the second row.
Jamie George is in at hooker with props Joe Marler and Will Stuart packing down either side of him.
Lock Jonny Hill is in line to come off the bench, despite not being named in Borthwick’s World Cup squad, while hooker Ellis Genge will earn a 50th cap when he comes on.
“Jonny has trained with us throughout the week, and I am pleased to be able to name him in the match day 23. I have no doubt he will provide a big impact for us off the bench,” Borthwick said.
“We’re delighted for Ellis who will win his 50th cap from the bench. He’s a brilliant professional, both on and off the field.”
ENGLAND TEAM
Freddie Steward, Henry Arundell, Joe Marchant, Ollie Lawrence, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell (capt), Jack van Poortvliet, Joe Marler, Jamie George, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Courtney Lawes, Ben Earl, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Dan Cole, Jonny Hill, Jack Willis, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Max Malins.
© AAP
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