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Jones admits he's still searching for best team after axing 3 Wallabies
By Rugby365
Australian coach Eddie Jones admitted that his flailing team are “massive underdogs” against a “red hot” New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup opener in Melbourne next Saturday.
However, he made it clear that his main goal is to find a ‘winning combination’ for the World Cup in France in September and October.
Jones made some radical changes this past week.
He dropped fullback Tom Wright from his squad, following the losses to South Africa and Argentina – with Andrew Kellaway and Jordan Petaia in the mix to wear the No.15 jersey.
Utility back Reece Hodge and back row forward Pete Samu were also selection casualties.
“We need to improve the team,” Jones told an online media briefing from the team’s base in Brisbane, adding: “We are looking to improve the team.
“We haven’t been good enough in the first two games.
“I’m still searching for what our best team is, that’s quite obvious,” Jones said.
“I’ve only had the players for a short time and I need to find out what our best combinations are so Kellaway and Petaia are definitely options at No.15 and both have trained there this week.”
He made it clear that his main focus is ‘getting the team ready for the World Cup’ in France in September and October.
“These games, as important as they are and certainly against New Zealand and the Bledisloe Cup we treat them with the utmost importance.
“[However,] I’ve got to find out who the best 33 is for Australia and this is part of the process.”
He noted that the team lacked alignment in defence and attack around the breakdown against Argentina.
“That’s part of the issues we’ve got at the moment,” he said.
“It’s an understanding issue – understanding what we need, what decisions need to be made by the players.”
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Latest Comments
Recent complaints that SA players have a 12-month workload isn't of itself a credible enough excuse to lay at the door of EPCR administrators. If SA clubs want to participate in NH league and club competitions and also participate in SH internationals, then clearly something has to give.
From the EPCR perspective, I do think that the format/schedule issues can be fixed if there's a strong enough desire to remove some of the logistical challenges clubs are facing with these long and frequent trips across the hemispheres.
From the SA player workload perspective however, I'm not sure how players can participate safely and competitively at both the club and international levels. Perhaps - and as Rassie appears to be developing, SA develop a super squad with sufficient player numbers and rotation to allow players to compete across the full 12-month calendar.
Bottom line though, is the geographical isolation is always going to restrict SA's ability to having the best of both worlds.
Go to commentsMoriaty refused to play for wales also he’s injured, France’s is being coy about wales, North in the dark but Sam David and jerad are you joking their not good enough
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