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Opinion
As Eddie Jones boards a plane to France with a side he thinks will win the World Cup, the Aussie media is still badgering him about his selections.
That time has passed. Now is the moment to give the Wallabies a great send off and show the same amazing support our Matildas have enjoyed over the past month.
The way the media treated Jones was a disgrace. Like him or loathe him, Eddie Jones deserves respect.
The World Cup is only major trophy missing from his CV. He’s been runner up twice and was a technical advisor for the World Cup-winning Springboks in 2007, ironically in France.
He was hired by Rugby Australia because the Wallabies were underperforming and needed a “winner”. As much as we warmed to Dave Rennie and what he was trying to build, his 38% win rate wasn’t good enough.
Many felt that eight months wasn’t long enough to turn our fortunes around ahead of the World Cup and while Jones’ start has been inauspicious, many will forget that he took England to their first Grand Slam in 13 years after only two months on the job.
And yet, our media wants to keep asking about Quade Cooper and if he understood why people might not believe he had the team to win the tournament.
What is the motivation for knocking our coach – and our team – not far out from the biggest tournament there is?
While I’m not brimming with confidence, it would be un-Australian to not have some belief in our two-time champions.
We need to remember that there is cause for belief.
Less than a year ago, on the spring tour, we lost to full strength Irish and French sides by three and one-point margins respectively. Comparing line ups, I’d argue our squad looks stronger now.
We have a great draw in arguably the weakest pool.
After our opening matches against Georgia and Fiji, Jones could have us firing on all cylinders by the time we get to Wales – and then come the quarter finals.
Then it will be a case of “Quade who?” and we can really dare to dream.
Of course we need to get our of Pool C first but let’s stay positive and save any public floggings (or uppercuts) until after the World Cup.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.