Eddie Jones’ warning for All Blacks before ‘real battle’ with France

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has warned the All Blacks that “they’ve got two weeks” to get ready for a red-hot France side who recorded an emphatic win over Australia on Sunday evening.

The All Blacks were unbeaten going into Friday’s titanic battle with fierce rivals South Africa at Twickenham. Playing in front of more than 80,000, it was a fairly one-sided contest from minute one.

South Africa dominated the possession and territory battle for the opening quarter of that Test, but failed to turn their attacking pressure into points – for a while, at least.

Tries to captain Siya Kolisi and wing Kurt-Lee Arendse – as well as a second yellow card to All Black Scott Barrett, which saw the lock sent off – saw the Boks take a hard-earned lead into the break.

But their best was yet to come. Playing with a one-man advantage, the Boks put on a show, and sent a message to the rugby world ahead of the upcoming tournament in France.

They ended up winning that Test 35-7, which was a record defeat for the All Blacks. Following their unbeaten run in The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup, it’s a concerning fall from grace.

Two days later, the All Blacks’ first opponent at the Rugby World Cup took the field against Eddie Jones’ Wallabies. Led by captain Antoine Dupont, Les Bleus were met with a deafening cheer as they ran out onto Stade de France.

Australia showed plenty of potential, once again, but were no match for France on the scoreboard. France scored four tries to three as they ran away with a 41-17 win.

As Wallabies coach Eddie Jones explained, it sets up “a real battle” at the same venue in next month’s Rugby World Cup opener.

“I’m sure (coach Fabian Galthie) knows how to do that, he doesn’t need advice from me,” Jones said when asked about what France needs to do to beat the All Blacks.

“France look ready to play, New Zealand on Friday night didn’t look ready to play. They’ve just travelled over, probably haven’t had much training. Their timing, rhythm of the game was off. They’ve got two weeks to get ready now.

“The game at the moment, as we saw today, the ability to get in the opposition’s 22 and then convert that into points is massively important. It’s become almost the game.

“You’ve got now, almost a game in the 22 and a game outside of the 22, and that game in the 22, you’ve got to get points for it.

‘New Zealand were good at that in The Rugby Championship, France are good at doing that. It’s going to be a real battle, mate, a real battle.

“What a great way to start the tournament. I’m sure if they could build another stadium on top of this they would. They’d get 160,000 in there.”