As Eddie Jones swung the axe ahead of the Wallabies’ final Rugby World Cup pool clash against Portugal on Sunday (Monday, 2:45am), the veteran coach said he’s resigned to being the “fall guy” if Rugby Australia officials deem it necessary to push the eject button.
Usually a team announcement is reserved for questions surrounding form and tactics, but with Jones’ future up in the air following reports he was talking to the Japan Rugby Football Union less than one season into a five-year deal, the Wallabies boss was asked to come clear about whether or not he interviewed for the soon-to-be vacant Brave Blossoms job.
“I’ve already answered that before. I’ve already said that before. I said no, previously. I am just worried about the Portuguese game,” Jones said.
“I am 100 per cent committed to the job and I’ve said that previously.”
David Porecki and Eddie Jones speak to the media during a press conference ahead of their final pool match against Portugal. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Asked if he had considered resigning, Jones again insisted he was “only worried about the Portuguese game.”
Jones maintained that he got the selection for the World Cup campaign right and repeatedly said he took “full responsibility” for the results.
Asked what he meant by that, Jones said the buck stops with head coaches.
“If people have got a problem with results they come to me, right,” he said. “And at the end of the tournament, I will stand by that. If there needs to be a fall guy for the World Cup, then it’s obviously me. When you become a head coach for a team, you take on that responsibility.”
While mathematically the Wallabies can still qualify for the quarter-finals, it will take a major capitulation from Fiji for Jones’ side to make the final eight.
Locked on six points with their Super Rugby friends, Fiji has a game in spare over the Wallabies and face the two lowest-ranked opponents in Pool C – Georgia and Portugal – over the next 10 days.
Should Fiji claim five out of a possible 10 points over the next two matches, the Wallabies will be knocked out even if they claim a bonus-point win over Portugal because they lost to their Pool C opponents in Saint Etienne in their second fixture.
With much at stake, Jones said his approach to World Cup selection hadn’t changed even though they were up against the world No.16 side.
“I’ve always gone into every World Cup where you pick your best 23 for each game and this is the best 23,” said Jones, with world class forwards Taniela Tupou (hamstring) and captain Will Skelton (calf) still sidelined with injury.
James Slipper will become the Wallabies’ most-capped player at a World Cup when he runs out for his 21st Test against Portugal. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Jones made three changes to his starting side from the one that suffered a humbling 40-6 loss to Wales.
The most glaring omission is Samu Kerevi, with the inside centre and his midfield partner Jordan Petaia left out.
As revealed on Thursday, their spots have been replaced by the NSW combination of Lalakai Foketi and Izaia Perese, who will make his World Cup debut as he starts in the No.13 jersey for the first time for the Wallabies.
“Just opportunity, Foketi has trained well the whole tournament,” Jones said.
“Samu has probably just been a little bit off. You know, he’s had a tough run-in to the World Cup, coming back from an ACL [anterior cruciate ligament injury], two hamstring injuries. Hasn’t been as sharp as we’d like him to be.
“And Jordie Petaia had a bit of a calf issue. He is fit now but again with Izzie, he’s trained really well the whole World Cup and I feel like both those two guys can do a really good job for us against Portugal.”
Mark Nawaqanitawase, Ben Donaldson and Marika Koroibete will all start against Portugal. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The other change sees Fraser McReight return to the back-row, with Rob Leota drop back to the bench.
In the absence of Tupou, James Slipper will play his 21st World Cup match – a Wallabies record, surpassing George Gregan – as he lines up at tight-head prop alongside Dave Porecki and Angus Bell in the front-row.
The second-row remains the same with Richie Arnold partnering Nick Frost, while it’s a young back-row with Tom Hooper, McReight and Rob Valetini returning.
Tate McDermott and maligned fly-half Ben Donaldson form the halves, with Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and Carter Gordon providing cover on the bench which is also sees back-rower Josh Kemeny in line to make his World Cup debut.
Jones, who was in the stands in Paris to watch Australia A beat Portugal 30-17 in August, said he felt the balance of the back-row would be crucial against a European side that likes to move the ball.
“Against Portugal, it’s going to be a work-rate game. They play a side-to-side game and I feel that having two workers there will suit us best,” Jones said.
“Then Leota can come in the second-half. I thought he played well last week for us. We’ve got a young team that needs to be kept fresh.”
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has once again denied he interviewed for the soon-to-be vacant role with the Brave Blossoms. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Perese, 26, described the feeling of about to feature in the World Cup as a “pinch yourself” moment.
“I’m excited,” he said.
“It’s one of those things, that’s part of footy: if you don’t get to play, you don’t get to play. You’ve just got to rock up, week-in-and-week-out and do your very best to prepare the team for that week.
“This week I finally get an opportunity, so I am just thinking about doing my job for the boys and putting a lot of pride into that jersey, for everyone back home as well.”
Perese will form a NSW-heavy backline alongside playmaker Donaldson, Foketi and winger Mark Nawaqanitawase.
“There is a lot of familiarity with Donno and La [Foketi], having the opportunity to play three years together. We trust each other, we’ve grown together over the three years,” he said.
Wallabies team to play Portugal at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne on Sunday 1 October, 5:45pm CET/2:45am Monday AEST
1. Angus Bell (27 Tests)
2. David Porecki (c) (18 Tests)
3. James Slipper (133 Tests)
4. Nick Frost (14 Tests)
5. Richie Arnold (8 Tests)
6. Tom Hooper (7 Tests)
7. Fraser McReight (16 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (38 Tests)
9. Tate McDermott (28 Tests)
10. Ben Donaldson (6 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (58 Tests)
12. Lalakai Foketi (8 Tests)
13. Izaia Perese (5 Tests)
14. Mark Nawaqanitawase (10 Tests)
15. Andrew Kellaway (25 Tests)
Finishers
16. Matt Faessler (4 Tests)
17. Blake Schoupp (4 Tests)
18. Pone Fa’amausili (6 Tests)
19. Rob Leota (20 Tests)
20. Josh Kemeny (1 Test)
21. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (2 Tests)
22. Carter Gordon (8 Tests)
23. Suliasi Vunivalu (6 Tests)
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No he was not
Farthing
Roar Rookie
Kerevi has been horrendous. Paisami in 2020 was better than Kerevi in 2023.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Nostalgia is all part of the following RTL. Ed has achieved but the last two years from my perspective hasn’t been great. He’s burned so many assistants and players with nothing to show for from last 24 months. It’s been ugly both on and off the field. I think Ed should leave the game with what’s left of his legacy, whatever that may be.
KTinHK
Roar Pro
Agreed. But when you see that Ikitau only returned this weekend he would have missed all the big pool games if he were taken, which would have been too late, and even then you’d get no chance to see if he had ‘come back’ after the injury. As we have seen with quite a few others, sometimes they don’t return to previous form after major injury either immediately or longer term. The decision not to take Ikitau looks like a sound one to me.
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
Sorry, off topic "Good Old Collingwood Forever" ARU (before Hamish and marketing mates) trousered a squillion to "re-brand" and disenfranchise constituent State Unions. Des Tuddenham always played above his weight, and captained "The Big V" ARU now need this sort of guts and determination - almost forgot to say he was a redhead. Poidevin needed now, but schooled at St Pat's Christian Brothers Goulburn - Shore wont give him a look in. Go retired CFC Brothers - I seem to recall Loane was from Terrace or Nudgee??
Gary
Roar Rookie
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Rocky's Rules
Roar Rookie
@Rugbytrylover Yes I played Shute Shield and coached for 10 yrs. Yes, I've watched every WB Test for past 55 years. I've seen em all. Have you noticed WBs are ranked 10th in world now and won't progress from pool for 1st time?
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
Harry. The only selection he got wrong imho was not taking Ikitau. Was his shoulder 100%? I don't know. Cooper showed he wasn't back to where he was post injury. Hooper wasn't anywhere near his best since he had a break from the game and was also injured. Plus, unfortunately for him as great a player as he is or was, he lost a lot of Test matches he played in. Not his fault obviously. Backing some youngsters was a bold and brave decision that is easy to criticise in hindsight. However I don't think the older heads would have made any difference. Sacking Eddie is the talk of keyboard warriors. Give him another year at least. He's had some tough sides early that we were always going to struggle to win. Wales was the biggest disappointment obviously. Our players need to play more games. Letting them play overseas more in NZ or Europe will help their development more than playing in our Mickey Mouse Super Rugby comp. Not sure of solutions but more quality rugby games for players would be a start. Not joining the merry band of doomsayers in 'Sack Eddie'.
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
FF. Type on you buffoon.
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
RR. Did you ever play rugby? The worst Wallaby squad you've ever seen? Well....How about the last 20 years v The all Blacks? Have a look at a few of those. 20 years!
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
Cec. Eddie's games. SA. World Champs, albeit with our great QC at 10. Lost. Not unexpected. Argentina in a close one ...Probably should have won that. QC again at 10. Kiwis.....rarely beat them and QC drops a ball with a two man overlap in the dying moments of one game. Lost both. Next up France at home who are World Cup favourites. Lost. Not unexpected. Win against Georgia which was expected although watching Fiji just now, Georgia are a big Test improver. Lost to Fiji which was not totally unexpected without disrespecting Fiji's improvement. Wales game was our worst and some big turning points but weren't good enough unfortunately. We SHOULD beat Portugal. So if we look at our ranking....is it 10? What do we expect? Sacking Eddie is not the answer but hey, 99% of Roarers plus all the 'learned' journos and ex Wallabies disagree. I guess the 'bandwagon' wants blood but I say give him another year to build his squad. The easy thing is to 'sack' the coach isn't it? He has a great reputation and has had only 9 months, with as stated previously, some tough games with a new squad straight up. The Rugby Australia board on the other hand should be more accountable and spend money to build the game, not buy bloody league players. So punters, call me an Eddie lover but I'm not a negative follower of the Pied Piper of doom. We have talented rugby players that basically need more game time and some more time with their new coach. Because let's face it, no-one out there in Roar land is a Test coach, but they are definitely Test quality baggers on the keyboard. Old Spiro included. "I need a shower to wash all the negativity off." One of your best Eddie! Love it.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
The Georgian 10 had a blinder.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Eddie has forgotten what it’s like to work for a union on a tight budget.
Cec
Roar Rookie
We win the pool with those test players, replace Swinton with Lonergan (remember Lachlan’s winning try & pilfer to seal the test vs Wales just 10mos ago?). Eddie”s replacements for that list .of men are not test players. Hoiles, “it was men vs boys out there…”. Stop defending Eddie the indefensible and bring back the men who actually have tier 1 test wins. The list of test winners is longer than yours noted roo. Also Ed needs to retire as the game has moved past him at only <32% over the past two years. Just acknowledge Eddie is 0-7 vs tier 1 this year.
Cec
Roar Rookie
No Lenny since Jorgo was sent home? Did Ed even replace Jorgo?
MO
Roar Rookie
Mate I think with Kerevi it’s more about having someone we can dish bad ball to.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
So Tom forgive me but I have to ask. What's new pussy-cat?
Muglair
Roar Rookie
You are completely missing the point. Australia has been slowly sliding backwards for 20 years. Unless we face up to the fact that no matter who is playing or coaching, we are miles off the pace, then we will just keep sliding further. There does not have to be a bottom. The whole structure of rugby has to be rebuilt, and tinkering at the top, as is being pushed by just about everyone, will only further entrench failure.
cs
Roar Guru
Actually the Tahs’ problem was in part their backline, especially the three-quarters and their inability to combine and work with the back three. Be interesting to see if they can gel tomorrow night.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Os Lobos have a good chance.