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SAINT ETIENNE – Not to be confused with the English cricket side during the recent Ashes, the Wallabies feel like they’re in a “winning environment” heading into the World Cup.
Strange given their winless start to 2023, but hooker Dave Porecki insists the Wallabies are in a bullish, confident and hungry mindset heading into Saturday’s (Sunday, 2am AEST) World Cup opener against Georgia at the Stade de France.
“It doesn’t feel like it’s an environment that is 0-5 right now,” Porecki said.
“We all understand the assignment for this year, which was to build, to gel as a new group and develop and build a performance long enough to win games.
“I genuinely feel like we’re moving in the right direction. It doesn’t feel like a losing culture or a losing environment. It feels like a winning one. The last thing to come from that will be the scoresheet.”
The “assignment” Porecki speaks of is, of course, the World Cup.
While the past five Tests have painted a picture about the year to date, the moment the Wallabies were hammered in Pretoria (something that was always on the cards given they’ve never won at the venue and Jones had had the entire squad for less than a week), Jones turned his attention to the World Cup.
Ben Donaldson, assistant coach Jason Ryles and David Porecki speak to media at Stade Roger Baudras ahead of their Rugby World Cup opener against Georgia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
It was only on Saturday some Wallabies were heard encouraging teammates that it was the final day of “pre-season”.
Odd given they’ve played five Tests.
But in the lead-up to the Wallabies’ most recent 41-17 defeat to France, Jones was flogging his side. Some members called it some of the most gruelling sessions they’ve endured since the 63-year-old returned.
A meticulous planner, Jones leaves no stone unturned heading into the tournaments.
His 90 per cent win record at World Cup, which includes his stint with South Africa as an assistant and two World Cup finals as head coach, was one of the reasons Rugby Australia pounced on him in the first place.
Fitness and finishing over the top and peaking at the right time in a marathon year is something Jones has been calculating.
But ensuring his squad is healthy and fit will be essential, with centre Samu Kerevi (hand) needing to get through training on Monday evening to push for selection.
Others like props James Slipper and Pone Fa’amausili are expected to miss the Test.
All along Jones has maintained the Wallabies will turn around their poor results in time for when it matters.
“We’ve got to keep believing and working hard and it’ll come,” he said late last month.
“It might be in two weeks’ time against Georgia. It might be three weeks against Fiji. It might be four weeks against Wales. It might be five weeks against Portugal. We don’t know when it’s going to come.”
Eddie Jones during a Wallabies training session ahead of the Rugby World Cup France 2023. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
It was a theme new attack coach Jason Ryles touched upon on Monday, with the former State of Origin and NRL premiership winner pointing to a five-match winless streak in mid-2012 before winning the title with the Storm later that year.
“I remember in 2012 we were playing at the Storm and we were 0-5 and it was basically one game. It was a tight game but it broke that drought of not winning,” Ryles said.
“You’ll find the process each week is very similar. You might change a few of your training days but it’s one of those things where everyone is working hard every day.
“Sometimes it takes that game to get that confidence back and get a bit more belief in the group. Then before you know it, you turn one into two into three.
“Eddie is very experienced. He’s done really well in terms of keeping the environment really positive and making sure players are working really hard.
“I think the age profile of the group – all the players are really hungry. They want to get better and play for the Wallabies. There’s 33 guys there. There’s 23 spots every week. Everyone is fighting really hard every single day to get better.
“It’s one of those things where it only takes one game.”
The Wallabies share a light-hearted moment at a training session on September 04, 2023 in Saint-Etienne. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
That young profile (the Wallabies’ average age is 26) is something that Jones has made a point of addressing for this World Cup.
Not wanting any mental scars, he put a broom through most of older brigade.
Porecki, 30, said that while he is one of the older players, experience could be found in many ways.
“You look at the squad and they’re young but a lot of them actually have 30-40 caps under their belts,” he said.
“In terms of experience, you could argue they are more experienced than me. Just because I am older doesn’t mean I’m more experienced.
“We have a good group of young fellas. We’ve got a lot of debutants, a lot of first-year [players] and they’re the ones you keep your eye on to make sure they fit into the system well. They have so far.
“It’s high energy, willingness to work, willingness to get better, that’s a massive one in an environment like this where it’s over a long period of time. I feel like everyone is in that mindset.”
While Georgia is expected to challenge the Wallabies up front and use the ball more than perhaps historically, Porecki said the game came down to meeting the challenge in the mind.
“A lot of their game is set-piece, they love the physical battle. Close contact,” he said.
“For us, as a forward pack specifically, we need to be up for the fight.
“A lot of detail goes in for the next couple of days into the week.
“At game day, it’s essentially the top two inches that count. For us as a pack, we want to impose ourselves and that’s what we’ll be looking to do.”
The Wallabies will name their team on Thursday night.
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.