Eddie Jones is facing intense scrutiny as the Rugby World Cup draws near, with Australia struggling under his leadership. The Wallabies suffered their third consecutive defeat under Jones, losing 38-7 to arch-rivals New Zealand in Melbourne. This defeat, coupled with earlier losses to South Africa and Argentina, has left Australia likely to enter the World Cup as the bottom side in the Rugby Championship.
The poor performance has given Wales hope of topping their World Cup pool, which also includes Fiji, Georgia, and Portugal. A quarter-final showdown with Argentina or England could be at stake. Former England fly-half Andy Goode expressed his disappointment, tweeting, Eddie Jones has taken the Wallabies backwards quicker than I used to run to the buffet!
Critics have not held back in their assessment of Jones. Ben Darwin, a former Wallabies prop, described Jones as the bride trying to organize a wedding in the car on the way to the wedding. Meanwhile, ex-Wallabies coach John Connolly blasted Jones, saying, How did we end up with Eddie again? He is full of it. He talks a great game but plays a terrible one.
Despite the criticism, Jones remains determined to turn things around before the World Cup. He apologized for the defeat to New Zealand and urged fans to stick with the team. It’s a terrible result, and I take full responsibility for it. But I’ve coached teams like this before, and you can turn it around, Jones stated confidently. He believes that the team has the potential to be successful, even if it doesn’t seem that way at the moment.
In other rugby news, the Welsh national team has been training in scorching temperatures as they prepare for the World Cup. Players have been given ice lollies and sprayed with water to cope with the sweltering conditions. Interestingly, Real Madrid’s Academy is also at the same training base in Antalya, Turkey. Wales’ Dan Biggar jokingly expressed a bit of envy as he compared his team’s EasyJet flight to the academy’s business class travel.
England has also received a World Cup warning after Argentina nearly defeated South Africa in Johannesburg. The Pumas showed great ambition and skill, providing a significant challenge to the Springboks. This performance has raised alarm bells within the England camp, as they prepare to face Argentina in what could be the defining game of their World Cup group.
Scotland is celebrating the strong debut performance of Ben Healy, who staked a claim for a place in the World Cup squad. Healy, who made his first start for Scotland in a match against Italy, impressed with his confident temperament and exceptional kicking skills. The fly-half’s performance has fueled the competition between him and Adam Hastings for a spot in the final squad.
As the Rugby World Cup approaches, teams are intensifying their preparations, hoping to secure their place in the tournament. With Australia’s struggles, Wales’ scorching training sessions, England’s warning from Argentina, and Scotland’s debutant shining, the stage is set for an exciting and competitive tournament in France.
