Eddie Jones has hit out on the media as “part of the problem” with Australian rugby in a unprecedented press convention rant.
The Wallabies flew out of Sydney on Thursday morning to start their preparations for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, which begins on 8 September.
Jones and his crew have been hit by one other disaster forward of the event after assault coach Brad Davis left all of the sudden for “family reasons”.
The head coach, who was re-appointed as Australia head coach in January, final week named an inexperienced ultimate squad of 33 for the event, leaving out common captain Michael Hooper and veteran playmaker Quade Cooper.
Speaking to assembled members of the Australian press corps at Sydney Airport, Jones – who was carrying a Crocodile Dundee hat – claimed that the questions on his choice selections had been “so negative” and insisted his facet would show the journalists incorrect.
“I know what’s wrong with Australian rugby and you blokes are part of the problem because you’re so bloody negative about everything,” Jones stated.
“We’re going off to a World Cup you think we can’t win. You think the selection process is bad because the players complain, so I apologise for that.
“We’ll go out there and do our best, boys. If you haven’t got anything positive to say don’t ask please.”
“Tell us we’re terrible and we will prove you wrong. I can feel this negativity, I’ve got to wash myself off, it’s sticking to me. Thanks for the worst press conference I’ve ever had in world rugby. Well done, the worst I’ve ever seen.”
While Hooper’s omission was partly because of considerations over the flanker’s health, Cooper was a straight choice name, with Jones surprisingly choosing teen Carter Gordon and the versatile Ben Donaldson as his fly half choices.
The omission of Cooper, 35, all however ends his worldwide profession after the inventive ten had pressured his method again into the Australia set-up underneath Dave Rennie, Jones’s predecessor.
Jones revealed that he had been unable to get in contact with Cooper since reducing him from his squad.
“I tried to ring him and I can’t get a hold of him – that’s all I can do,” Jones defined after the fly half was additionally not included in an Australia A squad that can face Portugal on 26 August.
“If I ring them and they won’t ring back, what do you want me to do?” Jones added. “What do you want me to do? Tell me. Well why keep asking about it?”
The Wallabies, in the meantime, face France on the Stade de France a day later of their ultimate warm-up fixture earlier than they start their World Cup towards Georgia in Paris on 9 September.
The departure of Davis, who had overseen Australia’s assault for under 4 video games after becoming a member of Jones’s employees earlier this 12 months, is additional upheaval for a facet who’re but to win this 12 months, however Jones performed down the impression of the coach’s exit.
“There’s an opportunity for us,” Jones stated. “We’ll improve our coaching staff. There’s a potential candidate ready to step up now.
“We’ve got the right squad now, we’ve got the right balance of energy, enthusiasm and youth on our side; we’re ready to go,” he stated. “Yesterday our training was the best I’ve seen by a mile … we’re ready to show the world what we can do.”
Australia additionally face Wales, Fiji and Portugal in Pool C on the World Cup.