NIK SIMON: Eddie Jones is taking one game at a time as his side prepare to take on France on Sunday but the Wallabies boss admits he has ‘no interest’ in England who are ‘just another team for him now’
- Australia play France on Sunday in their final game ahead of the World Cup
- Eddie Jones’ side take on Georgia on September 9 in their opening group match
- But Jones admits that ‘Rugby Union is a struggling sport currently in Australia’
- Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results
‘What are you up to here?’ says Eddie Jones, stepping out of Le Bar Bikini at Australia’s team hotel in Paris.
In the lobby, Steve Hansen is sitting in a quiet corner, deep in conversation with one of the backs.
Neal Hatley, England’s former forwards coach, stops between meetings and explains how this was the place where designer Louis Réard unveiled the bikini in the 1940s.
But there is no time for sunbathing. The Wallabies are scrambling to prepare their young team for the World Cup. Australia are yet to win a game since Jones took over at the start of the year.
‘We can chat for a couple of minutes if you’re quick,’ says Jones. He talks about the buzz during his first couple of days in the French capital, seeing footage of the hosts every time he flicks on the TV.
Eddie Jones’ (pictured) Australia side are set to take on France on Sunday in their final Rugby World Cup warm up match
The Wallabies have 26 players in their 33 man squad that have played under 10 Tests, and Jones says this is a ‘deliberate’ plan to help ‘regenerate Australian rugby’
‘The atmosphere will be electric and it’s going to be the most competitive World Cup we’ve ever had.
‘With Australia, 26 of the 33 have played under 10 Tests. We’ve deliberately gone down the path of regenerating Australian rugby. I’d be a liar to say I didn’t feel like it was daunting.
‘At the same time, there’s probably two young teams in the top eight and that’s us and France, so we’re the teams with the most growth.’
Jones had just finished a press conference on Zoom, with no Australian journalists present in person. They will arrive in good time, but the low-key nature reflects the job he faces to build rugby’s profile in his home country.
A quieter life than England? ‘It’s no comparison, mate. We’re a struggling sport at the moment in Australia and that’s the opportunity we’ve got.’
Jones is facing some familiar challenges in his new post. The churn of staff from his days with England has continued with coach Brad Davis recently leaving his post.
They’ll take on France who have an equally young squad, but are fancied as one of the favourites to win the tournament – especially seeing as they are playing on home soil
The Wallabies kick off their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign against Georgia on September 9
‘We’ve upgraded our coaching staff. As much as you don’t like coaches leaving, it’s been a bonus for us. I get to work with a coach who I’ve worked with for a number of years.’
Australia face a daunting friendly against hosts France in Paris on Sunday, but Jones warns against reading too much into warm-up fixture results.
‘The big thing is that you don’t know what each team’s working on,’ he says.
‘With Japan in 2015, we lost four of five warm up games because we were working on things that were going to help us beat South Africa. We’re trying to create a new style of game that suits our players that maybe hasn’t been played previously.’
So, what does he make of England’s performances? ‘I’m not interested in England, mate. I’ve got no interest. I like the players, I like Steve Borthwick. But they’re just another team for me now.’
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