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.”
England ready for rematch
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.
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
it refutes your point though.. the Aussies were basically rookies and still gained the upper hand where it counts, in the forwards where the proclaimed greatest of savea whitlock cane and retallick were well beaten in the first half. in the 2nd the Aussies were spent as young rookies.
Tipene Roar
Roar Rookie
that's not really the point.ABs made 13 changes to starting team,That makes a difference to the gelling of the run on squad. Had they not done that then wallabies most probably wouldn't of scored 17 unanswered points the first half. Once changes were made, well wallabies couldn't swallow on them points
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Some of us enjoy his showmanship and don't mind a coach who's bullish. Tight margins.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
And yet the more the team loses the more disrespectful Jones is and the more he embarrasses not himself but australia.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
So send a cheque then.
Qualify
Roar Rookie
No time like now to fix it :thumbup:
sheek
Roar Guru
Qualify, The Wallabies have been ordinary for nearly 2 decades, & a lack of quality players & leadership are 2 of numerous problems. Poor discipline & repeating the same mistakes over & over tells a tale on them. Ironically, Hooper is our most capped captain, but I've never considered him exceptional. He wouldn't be among my all-time top 10 Wallaby captains. Or maybe even 20! Anyway, that's just a brief response. I think I would have picked QC also. But in saying that, EJ had to try something different, so credit there. Ultimately the squad looks like deckchairs being swapped around on the Titanic.
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
you'd find the Wallabies was the watered down side.. 5th choice front rowers and rookies with 200 or so caps, the nz 2nd row alone had far more than that
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Sheek, who amongst Australia's ranks can you see as a captain standing next to Eals? Sincere question. I couldn't see Skelton either, but I can't see anyone else either. He has the cattle, the players he picked are good enough and have the talent (bar the obvious Vunivalu and Donaldson. I would've picked Quade and Campbell instead, but that's neither here nor there.) But they don't bloody well believe it. Hopefully, if anything, he fixes their mindsets.
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Yes, he only disparages. Never says anything respectful or good about any team. Ever. And no journo ever latches on to the jokes and blows it out of proportion or skews the context. No. He's mean and evil and deserves a beating, blah, blah, blah...
Qualify
Roar Rookie
Thank you, Fracktobunt! Leave the fake humility to Gatland. Tired of people trying to play it safe in pressers in case they lose. Go out with a bang!!
Jez North
Roar Rookie
Just forget it. You should be glad you hit a nerve though I doubt you even realise how relentless you are.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Making outlandish predictions that are proven to be wrong within weeks isn't going to save rugby in Australia, nor is picking a bunch of kids going to earn us our best possible WC result. People have memories that allow us to recall the BS being spouted. Choosing undeserving random Randwick juniors or your mates' kids isn't going to solve rugby's problems in Australia
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Fractobunt it doesnt have to be full insult or full misery. There are so many options in between Eddie could have chosen. In fact Eddie is the only coach in the world Im aware of going the full insult yet Im not aware of ONE coach claiming they may as well stay home. Lofty ambitions are great but making silly claims and insulting anyone who questions his silly statements is not on.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
So Jones disparages the world and your moaning at me stating the obvious. And where exactly do i collect the money you owe me.
Tipene Roar
Roar Rookie
unless France give him a watered down chance like the ABs did last week. If the ABs had of started the same team as the week before ,well imo it would not of been the same wallabies team picked for the WC as such. Made some players look better than they are.
Jez North
Roar Rookie
You never can resist a dig at the Aussies can you Phantom :laughing: Lining up for your fortnightly payments and this is the thanks we get ??? You shouldn’t bite the hand which feeds you :stoked:
Fracktobunt
Roar Rookie
And kill the sport off in Australia, how about we show some belief and support before the World Cup and judge him after it.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
That strategy would increase Jones chances of being right.
El Flash
Roar Rookie
The trouble here is quite simply everyone in the Northern Hemisphere has heard Eddie ramble on so often he is rarely taken seriously now. In Gatlands case it is merely "Shut Eddie until you actually achieve something". Unfortunately Eddie has a 0-4 record with a game against France to come. 0-5 going into a RWC & he reckons he can win it ???