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Eddie Jones hits back at Sonny Bill Williams following comments

Sonny Bill Williams speaks during an Australia Wallabies Bledisloe Cup media opportunity at Marvel Stadium on August 23, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Wallaby head coach Eddie Jones stood his ground after he was criticised for the lack of experienced playmakers in his squad.

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The Wallabies fell to a 15-22 defeat to Fiji in their second Pool C game on Sunday with young flyhalf Carter Gordon one of the many players failing to stamp their authority on the game.

The 22-year-old Gordon was the preferred flyhalf selection ahead of experienced playmakers Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley when Jones announced his squad ahead of the World Cup.

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After the game, Former All Black centre Sonny Bill Williams shared his thoughts on the lack of experience in the Wallaby squad to help Gordon, who was replaced before the end of the game.

ā€œMy take on this whole ordeal of a game is, I feel for Carter Gordon right now,ā€ Williams told Stan Sport. ā€œBecause he doesn’t have a Quade Cooper or [Bernard] Foley to go back to the hotel and say ā€˜bro, these things happen but you know you will be better.’

ā€œIt’s really tough seeing him get pulled like that.

ā€œSometimes you live and die by your decisions and Eddie Jones got found out tonight [Sunday] unfortunately.ā€

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Williams’ comments were brought up during the Wallabies’ post-match press conference and Jones had a response for the All Black legend.

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ā€œWhen you are a television commentator, you are always right,ā€ said Jones. ā€œMaybe I need to become a television commentator then I will be right all the time.ā€

He added: ā€œWe’ve gone with a young team but I’ve got no regrets at all.

ā€œWe are building a team for the future and we are going to go through some pain.

ā€œI made the decision to go for a younger team and if that’s the wrong decision then I will be held accountable for that but I think Australian rugby needs to move on to a younger team.

ā€œI am prepared to go through some pain to leave Australia with a team capable of doing really well in a World Cup and that’s not to say we can’t do it; we’ve had a bit of a setback today [Sunday] but that’s all part of being in a World Cup.

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ā€œI do remember South Africa lost a game and won a World Cup, so funny things have happened.ā€

The Wallabies’ hopes hang on defeating Pool C leaders Wales in Lyon on Sunday with bonus points and points differential from the two remaining rounds likely to come into play.

Jones gave no hints about what line-up changes he might make for the unbeaten Welsh, although he said both Will Skelton (calf) and Taniela Tupou (hamstring) would not play.

As well as their first World Cup loss to Fiji, Australia hadn’t been beaten by the Pacific Islanders in 69 years and Jones said it ā€œhurtā€ to see such a record broken on his watch.

ā€œIt definitely hurts me personally, 100 percent, and as I said, I’m 100 percent responsible for it,ā€ he said.

ā€œWe had a bad day, which can happen, and we’ve got to be better next week so that’s my responsibility too.ā€

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Comments

6 Comments
D
Derek 613 days ago

Furthermore, it has already been proven, so far, in this World Cup that despite the best of intentions, one referee with two assistants and a TMO yapping in his ear along with at least three bunker officials is not enough to get it right all of the time, on several different occasions. It also appears that the citing commissioner needs help too because he has missed so many things he should not have.

D
Derek 613 days ago

It's called unconscious bias and both Fiji and Argentina have been previous victims at World Cups. It has affected All Blacks in reverse when referees try to ensure they don't favor the favorites. It is neither intentional or deliberate but has to be accepted of part of a game where referees are not perfect in a world that is far from perfect.

P
Patricia 613 days ago

World cups are not for blooding new teams or young players. That's what you do in the 4 years prior.... should have kept Rennie. At least the wallabies were competitive then.

A
Andrew 613 days ago

We understand what Eddie is doing. As for the TV celebrities " Those who can, Coach, Those can't become Celebrity commentators. Right Sonny, right Justin.

A
Anand 614 days ago

Eddie is preparing this young Aussie team for the next world cup !

This one doesn't matter šŸ¤”

G
GL 614 days ago

100% responsible and 100% getting paid every month too

😁

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