Eddie Jones takes a game-by-game look as Australia prepares to face France on Sunday… as the Wallabies boss insists he has ‘no interest’ in England, which are ‘just another team for him now’
“What are you planning here?” says Eddie Jones, stepping out of Le Bar Bikini at the Australian team hotel in Paris.
In the lobby, Steve Hansen sits in a quiet corner, deep in conversation with one of the backs.
Neal Hatley, England’s former attacking coach, stops between meetings to explain how designer Louis Réard unveiled the bikini here in the 1940s.
But there is no time for sunbathing. The Wallabies are busy preparing their young team for the World Cup. Australia have not won a game since Jones took over early this year.
“If you’re quick, we can have a chat,” Jones says. He talks about the crowds during his first few days in the French capital, seeing images of the presenters every time he turns on the TV.
Eddie Jones’ Australian team (pictured) will face France in their final warm-up match for the Rugby World Cup on Sunday
The Wallabies have 26 players in their 33-man squad who have played under 10 Tests, and Jones says this is a ‘deliberate’ plan to ‘help regenerate Australian rugby’.
“The atmosphere will be electric and it will be the most competitive World Cup we’ve ever had.
With Australia, 26 of the 33 have played under 10 Tests. We have deliberately embarked on the path of regenerating Australian rugby. I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t find it daunting.
“At the same time, there are probably two young teams in the top eight and that’s us and France, so we are the teams with the most growth.”
Jones had just finished a press conference on Zoom, with no Australian journalists present in person. They will arrive on time, but the calm disposition reflects the task he has to fulfill to build the rugby profile in his home country.
A quieter life than England? “It’s not a comparison, mate. We’re a struggling sport in Australia right now and that’s the opportunity we have.”
Jones faces a number of familiar challenges in his new role. The staff turnover from his England days continues, with coach Brad Davis recently leaving his post.
They take on France, who have an equally young squad, but are seen as one of the favorites to win the tournament, especially as they play on home soil.
The Wallabies kick off their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign against Georgia on September 9
“We have upgraded our technical staff. Even if you don’t like coaches leaving, it’s been a bonus for us. I’m going to work with a coach with whom I’ve been working for a number of years.’
Australia faces a tough friendly against hosts France in Paris on Sunday, but Jones warns against looking too much at the results of the warm-up.
“The big thing is you don’t know what each team is working on,” he says.
“With Japan we lost four out of five warm-up games in 2015 because we worked on things that would help us beat South Africa. We are trying to create a new style of play that suits our players and that may not have been played before.”
What does he think of England’s performance? ‘I’m not interested in England, mate. I’m not interested. I like the players, I like Steve Borthwick. But they’re just another team to me now.’
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