After Eddie Jones fired his shots in Lyon early on Friday morning, almost 300 miles further north it was Warren Gatland’s turn to respond in the afternoon.
Speaking at Roland Garros – home of the French Open tennis in Paris – Gatland placed an ace straight down the middle in response to Jones’ claim that his Australian team would win the crucial World Cup match this weekend.
Gatland and Jones are used to going head-to-head. Friday was no different. ‘He’s been given enough stick. I don’t need to put the boot in,” Gatland said of his old opponent. In a strange way, we’re probably both experiencing the same things.
“They (Australia) will be desperate on Sunday. We are desperate too. I expect us to win.’
Asked if he felt sorry for Jones, who faced criticism from all quarters after his Australian team were defeated by Fiji for the first time since 1954, Gatland’s answer was clear. “No,” he said.
Australian head coach Eddie Jones knows the pressure is on for his team to beat Wales at the World Cup this weekend
Jones’ side suffered a shock defeat to Fiji last time out and must claim victory or face an almost certain early exit
Wales boss Warren Gatland, meanwhile, admitted he has no sympathy for the criticism and pressure Jones has faced
Gatland explains: ‘As coaches we are all under pressure at times. It’s part of the job.
‘In fairness to Eddie, he tries to take as much pressure off the players as possible by saying he is responsible for the results and that things are not good enough.
‘I understand where he is. He is in a construction process. There is no criticism of the players. It’s all on Eddie. He’s probably more than happy for that to happen.”
So it seems. Friday was not the first time Jones and Gatland have spoken at a media meeting, and it is unlikely to be the last. They are two great coaching rivals who thrive on pre-match verbals.
But the reality is that the pair will face the huge meeting this weekend with their teams in very different spaces. Wales have a perfect World Cup record of 10 points from two games so far. They have confidence in it. On rare occasions in Welsh rugby there are no off-field distractions.
Gatland named a strong team for Australia on Friday. It is the same starting XV that defeated Fiji in the first round. Hooker and co-captain Dewi Lake were left out entirely but Wales’ big players are back after resting for the 28-8 win over Portugal.
Jones, on the other hand, is firefighting. He has lost captain Will Skelton and mainstay Taniela Tupou to injury and has been criticized for omitting the experienced Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper from his World Cup squad.
“I have no doubt we will win,” said Jones, looking ahead to Wales. One of him or Gatland is proven wrong and returns to their hotel room in Lyon disappointed. Defeat for Australia – who have won just one of their seven games under Jones’ leadership – would almost certainly see them eliminated in the group stages. Reaching the quarterfinals would remain mathematically virtually possible, even if it would be incredibly difficult. The reality is that Australia has to win. A success in Wales would seal a place in the last eight.
Fiji defeated Jones’ side 22-15 last weekend in what has been the shock of the tournament so far
It’s all at stake. It promises to be World Cup rugby at its best.
“These are big losses for Australia, there’s no doubt about that,” Gatland said of Skelton and Tupou’s injuries. “If you look at the recent record of matches between Wales and Australia, there’s never much in it.
‘They’re always tough. They don’t lie down in front of us and turn around. It will go along the wire.
‘What I am happy about at the moment is that I am proud of that Welsh jersey again. That has been a goal of ours in recent months. It doesn’t take long to lose it.
“I don’t think we had the respect of the rugby world in terms of performances and results.”
Wales have key players Liam Williams, George North, Dan Biggar and Will Rowlands back in their side for Australia after a week off. Their experience will be crucial.
The Australian side is green in comparison. There are 1,025 Welsh caps in Gatland’s 23. Jones’ Wallabies have just 588 and 132 of them are owned by James Slipper. Jones has put Carter Gordon, his team’s only specialist, on the bench and has opted to start Ben Donaldson as playmaker.
“I think experience will hopefully play a big role,” Gatland said. ‘We trained well this week. The boys have been very clear about what they want to achieve. We are going into it with a lot of confidence.’
Jones said before this World Cup that Australia would win the entire tournament. He has always been optimistic and still believes this to be the case, despite his team’s problems.
“They were talking about hitting and grabbing and doing things that people didn’t expect. It hasn’t come to fruition yet,” Gatland said. ‘I said we were going to do something special. I still believe that.’
After a disastrous Six Nations at the start of the year, in what was Gatland’s first campaign back in charge, Wales certainly have pride in their national shirt again.
Early 2023 saw a car crash for Welsh rugby on and off the field, but there are now positive signs of change in both areas.
Wales have won three of their last four meetings with Australia. That run includes a crucial victory in the group stages of the World Cup four years ago in Japan.
Wales, meanwhile, sit top of Pool C, having recorded wins in both their opening two matches
Jones’ side will be the underdogs going into the match, with the head coach saying he has ‘no doubt’ his side will claim victory
Gatland’s side are rightly favorites this time and should win, even though it will certainly be tight.
“Our relationship has always been good,” Gatland said of his meetings with Jones. ‘We went out a few times and had dinner together. I like his company. He’s fascinating. Obviously he drives a lot of people pretty hard.
“That was part of his success in the past.”
Both Gatland and Jones have been used to winning throughout their careers. There will only be one smiling who comes late on Sunday evening.