‘He’ll contribute mate’: Why Eddie Jones picked teen Max Jorgensen for RWC
Teenage sensation Max Jorgensen has been given an early birthday gift from Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, and there could be more surprises and honours on the way.
Jorgensen will celebrate his 19th birthday about a week before the Wallabies’ World Cup opener against Georgia at Stade de France.
Whether it’s in that Test – pending injury, of course – or later on in the tournament, the teenager will likely make his Wallabies debut on the biggest stage in rugby union.
When the Wallabies revealed their 33-man squad for the upcoming World Cup, Jorgensen was named as one of the five outside backs.
Jorgensen, along with halfback Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, has come from outside the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship squad to win over selectors.
“He’s such a versatile player, he can play fullback or wing equally,” coach Jones told reporters on Thursday evening.
“He is a player of the future for Australian rugby and we want to give him the opportunity to go to this World Cup.
“He’ll contribute mate. Every time he gets on the field, he’ll play well for us, but then he’ll take that experience on to the next World Cup.”
Mere moments after the squad was announced, coach Jones spoke with former Wallaby Morgan Turinui on Stan Sport in Darwin.
The youthful squad raised plenty of questions about the direction of this Australian team, and fans wanted answers.
With no room for veterans Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper, as well as injured centre Len Ikitau, coach Jones has taken his team in a different direction.
But there’s a reason to be excited if you’re a Wallabies fan. This team is just getting started.
“Jorgensen, I thought during the Super Rugby season he was one of the standout players so we always had our eyes on him,” Jones mentioned on Stan Sport.
“He’s come through a pretty rigid rehab and he should be fit to play in two or three weeks.”
Earlier this year, as rugby fans will undoubtedly remember, an eagle-eyed fan spotted coach Jones drafting a Wallabies squad during Super Round in Melbourne.
Jones, who was sitting in the stands at AAMI Park, was snapped writing down names. Some of those players have made the grade, while others have fallen short of selection.
“I put that dummy squad out at Melbourne Rebels, when I was having a meat pie watching the Rebels play,” Jones said during a press conference.
“There’s been some players come from outside the thinking, players I really didn’t know about.
“Heard about Jorgensen, heard about him at schoolboys, but you hear a lot of players at the schoolboys level and he was impressive at Super Rugby.
“I think I’d be about 70 per cent of what we knew and 30 per cent different.”
The Wallabies have one warmup Test before their World Cup opener, and it’s a big one. In fact, it doesn’t get much tougher.
Australia take on World Cup hosts and favourites France in Paris later this month.
Latest Comments
I’m hoping that the Reds can win their last 4 games with a couple of try bonus points. The pessimist in me wouldn't be surprised if the Drua and the Tahs knock the Reds over. The Reds may end up ruing the fact they were distinctly 2nd best against the Force and just so clunky against Moana Pasifica. The Brumbies should win all their remaining games with some bonus points giving them at least a top 2 finish as the leading Kiwi sides will take points off each other. How the Brumbies handle the fact that they will be expected to beat the Crusaders will fascinate me. You’d probably have to go back to 2001 for the last time the Brumbies would go into a game against the Crusaders nearly odds on to win.
Go to commentsFree to air is the key to fan expansion. I attended last weeks game at Suncorp (Reds v Blues) and the total cost is prohibitive to most people that wish to attend. Two tickets $130, parking (event day gouging) $75, road tolls $20, dinner beforehand $130, plus some petrol and a beer inside the stadium and a single game starts to cost $300-400. Who can afford that week in week out, I’d love to go more but could only afford this one game to see the Blues, I’d have loved to have seen more NZ teams here but I’d need to stop eating or sell a kidney.
Go to comments