Former Wallabies coach Alan Jones has taken exception with Eddie Jones’ backline selections and wants to see a significant change for game two against Fiji.
Writing for News Corp, Jones said Carter Gordon doesn’t deserve a start at No.10 unless he’s the team’s goal kicker.
“It was very pleasing to see Ben Donaldson step up at fullback and play well,” Alan Jones wrote. “He has ability. His kicking game needed to be on point and he delivered.
Carter Gordon. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
“As this tournament evolves, I can see Donaldson playing at number 10 and Andrew Kellaway at fullback.
“It doesn’t make sense for the Wallabies to pick Carter Gordon if he can’t handle Test match pressure as a goal-kicker.
“Against Georgia, young Gordon kicked far too much ball away inside the Georgian 22-metre area.
“Ben Donaldson is definitely a better all-round fit for the team; Kellaway is a world class fullback.
“In the pressure games ahead, we will be a stronger team with Donaldson at 10 and Kellaway at 15.”
Hansen stitched up by mates
Mack Hansen has come up with one of the all-time great press conference answers when he faced the media after being selected to start Ireland’s match against Tonga on Saturday.
The Aussie-born Hansen was asked if he’d much support from home.
“A lot of my mates are over. It’s tough getting Snapchats of them smoking vapes and drinking beer while I’m trying to prepare for the game,” Hansen laughed.
“It’s good craic. It will be good to catch up with them. It’s been nice to get that aspect, outside of playing, and seeing how much the World Cup means to people. People have been planning this for the last four years so seeing everybody really enjoying themselves is great.”
Hansen, who went viral after Ireland’s opening match for stripping down to his undies and throwing the rest of his kit into the stands, said playing at a World Cup was “an absolute privilege.
“I didn’t know if I’d ever get the opportunity. To get a start against a good Tongan team is really exciting. I was lucky enough to come off the bench so it settled the nerves, which is nice, so I should really enjoy this week.”
Malcom Marx blow
Springboks superstar hooker Malcolm Marx has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament after suffering a long-term knee injury at training.
“Marx, who was not included in Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber’s matchday squad to face Romania in Bordeaux on Sunday, went down at training on Wednesday after having his knee caught in contact,” the Springboks said in a statement.
“With the Springboks having the luxury of an enlarged 33-man squad in France for the international showpiece, and sufficient cover at hooker within the squad, he will not be replaced in the squad at this stage.”
South Africa, who beat Scotland 18-3 in their opening Pool B game, take on Romania in Bordeaux on Sunday.
Coach Jacques Nienaber said while the Springboks, who beat Scotland 18-3 in their Pool B opener, were now left with only one specialist hooker in the squad, other players could step into the role if needed.
“First and foremost, we are extremely disappointed for Malcolm, and we wish him all the best in his recovery,” he said.
“We have enough cover at hooker with Bongi (Mbonambi) and Deon (Fourie) in the squad, while Marco (van Staden) has also been training there and has been named on all our team sheets so far as a hooker option.”
Wallabies win bonuses revealed
Wallabies players will pocket $175,000 bonuses each if they can overcome the odds and win the World Cup, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.
The paper says RA and the players union wanted to keep the bonuses – which include a $25,000 boost if they make the semi finals – secret. That makes sense considering the recent blow up at RA spending on the men’s program by the national women’s team players.
The Herald says it is only the second time players have been offered bonuses for advancing past the quarterfinals.
The bonus offer for winning is a 40 percent increase on the $125,000 that was offered in 2019.
Wallabies wary of Semi threat
The Wallabies are looking to put the brakes on Fiji’s Semi Radradra with the ex-NRL star in their sights in their Rugby World Cup showdown with a quarter-final berth on the line.
Known as “Semi-trailer”, the hulking centre is Fiji’s go-to man with the Pacific Islanders desperate to topple Australia in Saint-Etienne on Sunday (Monday AEST) to keep alive their tournament.
Radradra will need to regroup after fumbling a last-ditch pass which could have led to a match-winning try in their World Cup opener against Wales, instead falling 32-26.
Playing for Parramatta between 2013 and 2017, Radradra had a stunning strike-rate with 82 tries from 94 games.
Wallabies assistant Jason Ryles said stopping Radradra would be key to Australia’s hopes of banking back-to-back victories after downing Georgia in their first pool game.
Barring any major upsets a win over Fiji would see the Wallabies and Wales secure the two play-off spots.
“Semi’s one of those guys that bend the line and they like to play off the back of him and in open space they look for him,” said Ryles, himself a former NRL star forward.
“He’s a huge influence on their team and one of the guys that we’re certainly going to have to make sure we’re doing a good job on.”
Wallabies winger Suliasi Vunivalu got the better of Radradra in their last meeting in a 2017 NRL qualifying final, when the ex-Storm star helped his team to victory.
Radradra was one of the Eels’ scorers in an 18-16 thriller at AAMI Park.
“I played against Semi back in club level at NRL and he’s a big threat so I’m looking forward this week to playing him,” said Vunivalu.
“We played each other in the finals and we (Melbourne) got up in 2017 so that was good.
“There’s no banter (between us) – it’s just respect.”
One of seven players in the Wallabies squad with Fijian blood-lines, Vunivalu was born and raised in Fiji until he moved to New Zealand as a teen and then on to Australia.
He said he asked fellow Fiji-born winger Marika Koroibete, who was part of Australia’s win over Fiji at the 2019 World Cup, if they would be targeted by the islanders.
“I was actually speaking to Marika about their last World Cup, and what they were saying, like ‘Were they like trying to aim at them, like Fijian on Fijian?’
“He said they were mentioning stuff to Samu (Kerevi) like ‘Belt him, belt him’ in Fijian.
“And I was like, ‘Did Samu know?’ and he said, ‘No, I didn’t want to tell Samu about that’ but yeah I think they’ll be looking forward to the same situation this week.”
Cec
Roar Rookie
Someone with a lot of test experience, with wins over top tier 1 nations, someone who can kick for goals and in general play, someone the team looks up to, someone who gets paid a bucket load of money from some of the biggest clubs. Someone CG looks up to as a mentor. Someone who has led test teams at a RWC. It’s an easy fix, just send home the injured 18yr as that’s a wasted pick.
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
Ben I think we now have the nail in the coffin as to why Alan Jones is completely irrelevant as a commentator for rugby today with these absurd comments. His remaining rent a crowd media who want to print his garbage are clearly desperate as no one rates what Alan jones has to say today and after this article even the diehard Alan Jones supporters (not any on this forum) will struggle.
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
I am in disbelief! Did I just read Alan jones say unless as 10 you kick for goal you can’t be included. Since when ever did that become the rule. I know Alan jones says a lot of dumb stuff but if my quick scan says yes this is what he said he has just confirmed he is 100% irrelevant as a commentator.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Allan Jones is one of my least favourite bottom feeders. But it’s not simply about Carter not kicking goals. Essentially he’s saying that Carter is keeping Kellaway out of the side because he can’t kick goals. That’s why Donaldson is at 15. And they are better off with Donaldson at 10 and Kellaway at 15.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Who would you have at 10?
Cec
Roar Rookie
Very debatable option. It’s like peeling onions, what else isn’t test level. “Moving goal posts” let’s not use those words with CG around :laughing:
Ben Pobjie
Expert
He doesn’t remember his own Grand Slam tour, when his own flyhalf didn’t kick for goal.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
I would give more consideration to the rugby opinions of Kim Kardashian than those of Alan Jones.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Tennis player and Golf players don’t keep their prize money secret - there is a great incentive to win and it is public knowledge. The performance bonuses of CEO’s are also published and so is the pay of Ministers - so why should players be different? Once you are in a public position, transparency comes with the territory. I don’t have an issue will well structured performance bonuses that rewards exceptional performance. The problem is when you pay a bonuses for mediocre performance e.g. reaching a QF. I like transparency and would prefer that RA controlled the media release and keep the rugby public informed. I see no reason why the Wallabies performance bonuses should be a secret.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Gordon doesn't have to be as good as Larkham. He just has to be better than all the other options. He is. He's the best option in 10. Stop moving the bloody goal posts. Before it wasn't he's a goal kicker. Next it will be because he has the wrong shoe size.
Cec
Roar Rookie
I didn’t limit “kicking” to just goal kicking, you assumed that. So you think CG is as good or better than Bernie at kicking in general play? What about overall skills & game management while your comparing a great to a rookie. Bernie only had a 3yr lead up with WB before his first RWC. CG may get there one day.
Atlas
Roar Rookie
Hookers. Scotland have had to replace their hooker Dave Cherry after he fell down the stairs at the team hotel and suffered a concussion. He will be replaced by Stuart McInally, Scottish hooker Ewan Ashman also suffered a concussion last week.
AJP
Roar Rookie
And last week had the temerity in his Australian column to question the change of coach from Rennie to Jones!!! After several years of heaping endless scorn and vitriol on Rennie and RA for not being up to scratch. Personally, I was pro-Rennie (probably will remain so, unless Eddie pulls a rabbit out of his hat), but Jones' hypocrisy is breathtaking.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
As mentioned elsewhere, our greatest flyhalf of the professional era wasn’t much of a goal kicker himself, preferring Burke, Eales or Mortlock to do the kicking. Was Larkham left out because he couldn’t goal kick?
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
I was thinking the same thing.
Loosey
Roar Rookie
That's what you get from the peanut gallery.....peanuts.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Does Alan Jones remember that possibly our greatest ever fly-half Steve Larkham didn't kick for goal? There's no rule that a starting fly-half has to be a goal kicker.
Keggy
Roar Rookie
“ In the pressure games ahead, we will be a stronger team with Donaldson at 10 and Kellaway at 15.” Jones got half right. The Kellaway bit.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Agree Olly and to some big names
Cec
Roar Rookie
Fair enough Alan, you’re old school and simply expect your 10 to have all the core skills if wearing the green & gold at a RWC, which then doesn’t compromise other selections. CG deficiencies and not being at test level kicking is glaring but perhaps Alan that’s asking far too much these days. :laughing: