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Fiji’s memorable win over England has had the side affect of dropping Australia down the world rankings to their equal worst-ever position one match out from the start of the World Cup.
The Fijians went above both Australia and England with the Twickenham triumph – pushing Eddie Jones’ team down to ninth from eighth. The team was ranked ninth for the first time last year before briefly rising to seventh.
After a 34-31 loss to Argentina in the second match of the Rugby Championship the Australians went back to eighth, but Jones has rejected the rankings as anything meaningful.
“No, obviously not happy,” he said after being asked about dropping to eighth on the World Rugby rankings following their 34-31 loss to Argentina, “but in a lot of ways, in this period, this isn’t about rankings, it’s about getting ready for the World Cup.
“I’ve come here to get the team ready for the World Cup.
“Ideally, we would have won every game we played. But that hasn’t happened, and it mightn’t happen. But we’re getting the team ready for the World Cup.
“It would have been easy if I come in, pared everything back and played a really simple game, but that’s not going to win us a World Cup.”
Fiji shape as a real threat in the Australians pool and Wallabies fans can be excused if they’re starting to fret about clearing the group – even though the draw has been kind.
The Wallabies’ opening game rival Georgia should be a minor hurdle but Wales and Fiji shape as banana skins.
Vinaya Habosi of Fiji celebrates with teammates. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Georgia surrendered a 6-0 halftime lead, conceding five tries after the break in a 33-6 loss to Scotland in their final Rugby World Cup warm-up at Murrayfield.
It was the fourth time in four summer Tests Scotland trailed at the break – and the third occasion they fought back to win.
Tries by Duhan van der Merwe sandwiched touchdowns by Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey and Kyle Steyn as the Scots recovered from conceding two Luka Matkava penalties in the first half.
The Wallabies kick-off their World Cup campaign against Georgia on September 9 (early September 10 AEST).
Although the Scots failed to fire before halftime, coach Gregor Townsend was heartened by the way they blew the visitors away after the interval.
“It was probably better for us going six points down because it meant we had to improve certain areas,” he said.
“Our fitness would have to come through, and it did, and our bench did really well, too.
“Georgia didn’t score a try so that was a pleasing aspect. Georgia have beaten Wales and Italy (over the last year), and they are outstanding in that contact area.”
Townsend leads his squad to their World Cup training base in France next Sunday, and is close to cementing his starting XV for their opener against South Africa on September 10 in Marseille.
“I’m more clear on the 15 than the 23, and I know there are players who have put their hand up today to come into the mix,” he said.
“That’s been a really positive outcome of these four games. Our bench has played really well, and we’ve finished every game stronger than our opposition. That’s a credit to the fitness of the squad.”
Scotland have beaten Italy and Georgia and split a pair with France.
Townsend said he expects winger Darcy Graham to be available for the South Africa clash after a quad strain forced his withdrawal from playing Georgia.
The All Blacks have ruled out a third starter for their crucial World Cup opener against France but coach Ian Foster wants to keep Tyrel Lomax with the team despite his horror injury.
Foster is also crossing his fingers that Scott Barrett won’t be rubbed out for a lengthy stint following his two yellow cards against South Africa in a humbling warm up defeat.
Starting tighthead prop Lomax joined Brodie Retallick and Shannon Frizell as sidelined for the France match on September 9 (AEST).
All Blacks coach Ian Foster speaks to media. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
“Tyrel is very sore. He’s our worst injury. He’s got 30 stitches,” Foster told reporters.
“He got stitched by a surgeon last night at different depths it’s actually gone into the muscle. His leg will be in a brace for four or five days as we give that a chance to heal. Long term he looks good, but he’s put himself into the unlikely category for a fortnight.”
With Retallick and Frizell missing any suspension for Barrett would leave the All Blacks with two fit locks, Sam Whitelock and Tupou Vaa’i.
Elton Jantjies disappearance from the Springbok squad has been explained with the star No.10 revealing he failed a drugs test.
Injuries to rival Boks flyhalves led to calls for him to be restored for the Rugby Championship and World Cup but his absences were unexplained.
“It with no small amount of shock and sadness that I have to inform you that I received notification earlier this month, from the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, that a urine sample that I had provided to them in June 2023, returned a positive test for a banned substance, Clenbuterol,” Jantjies said in a statement.
“I have instructed legal representation to assist me in determining the source of the prohibited substance and I have instructed them to ask for my B Sample to be tested and to launch an inquiry into the possible causes for the positive test.”
Iva and Elton Jantjies (Source: Instagram)
He denied he ever ‘deliberately’ took a banned substance.
“I will do everything in my power to prove my innocence.”
Jantjies has been at the centre of drama for the past year. He was arrested for causing damage on an international flight and returned home from camp after an alleged affair with team dietician Zeenat Simjee.
“This is another setback in what has been a very volatile time for me,” Jantjies said. “I shall overcome this with the support of my family and friends.
“I know that there will be those out there who doubt my innocence, but I hope to prove you wrong, in due course.
“For those who support me, thank you.”
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.