Under-fire head coach Eddie Jones rants at ‘negativity’ as Wallabies head to Rugby World Cup
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Wallabies coach Eddie Jones is adamant there needs to be a generational change.
PHOTO: AFP
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SYDNEY – Under-pressure Wallabies coach Eddie Jones on Thursday lashed out at “all the negativity” as the team left for the Rugby World Cup, after what he called the “worst press conference I’ve ever had in world rugby”.
The flailing Australian team are heading to France on the back of four straight defeats since the former England boss took over.
In a bid to get their campaign back on track, Jones named an inexperienced squad last week, shocking pundits by dumping veterans Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper and handing the captaincy to Will Skelton.
He is adamant there needs to be a generational change
“I can’t believe all the negativity here, boys,” he said. “I know what’s wrong with Australian rugby and part of you blokes are the problem because you’re so bloody negative about everything.
“We’re going off to the World Cup and you think we can’t win, you think the selection process is bad because some players can’t play. So I apologise for that.
“We’ll go out there and do our best, boys. If you haven’t got anything positive to say, don’t ask.”
Cooper, who was widely expected to be on the plane as first-choice fly-half, has reportedly refused to return Jones’ calls.
Pressed on whether he had personally spoken to the 35-year-old 79-Test veteran, Jones got even more flustered.
“I’m disappointed the player is upset, but all I can do is ring them. If they don’t take the phone call, you can’t talk to them,” he said.
“What do you want me to do? Tell me. Then why keep asking about it?
“I know you blokes think we can’t do anything (at the World Cup), so don’t ask any questions, boys,” he added, becoming sarcastic.
“Just be the pessimists you are. Keep Australian rugby where it’s been.
“Complain about players that don’t get selected. Keep doing about that because it’s fantastic, we love it.”
To make matters worse, Jones on Thursday confirmed attack coach Brad Davis had quit.
Davis, who held coaching roles at English clubs Bath, Ospreys and London Irish, was named on the staff in May and departs after a dreadful season.
Jones said there was a “potential candidate” ready to replace Davis.
Asked whether it was Davis’ decision to stand down, Jones said: “Family reasons, mate. There’s an opportunity for us. And I think we’ll improve our coaching staff .We had a discussion a couple of nights ago.”
He said he had approached former attack coach Scott Wisemantel, who resigned from the Wallabies in January, less than two weeks before Jones took over the top job. However, Wisemantel, who worked under Jones at England, was unavailable.
Australia will open their World Cup campaign against Georgia in Paris on Sept 9 before facing Fiji, Wales and Portugal in Pool C.
Only eight players in the 33-man squad have played at a World Cup before, with debutants including scrum-half Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 18-year-old back Max Jorgensen and prop Blake Schoupp.
But Jones insisted it was the “right balance of energy and enthusiasm”.
“We’ve got youth on our side, we’re ready to go,” he said.
“None of you guys think we can do any good, and that’s all right. The challenge for us as a group is to show you that we can, and show ourselves that we can.”
After 10 combative minutes, Jones lobbed one last grenade as he left for the plane.
“Thanks for the worst press conference I’ve had in world rugby. That is the worst I’ve ever seen,” he said. “You ought to give yourselves uppercuts, boys.” AFP, REUTERS
