1
Eddie Jones: 'Imagine being in the first team that's beaten South Africa in Pretoria'
By AAP
Eddie Jones is challenging the Wallabies to seize the moment and pen a chapter in rugby’s history books with a watershed win over the Springboks in Pretoria.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Wallabies flew out for South Africa on Friday with Jones promising an exciting new “Australian style” ahead of the side’s first Test of the all-important World Cup year and first game under his second tenure as national coach.
Australia have lost all previous seven Tests at Loftus Versfeld stretching back to 1963, but Jones couldn’t care less ahead of the Wallabies’ latest date with destiny next Saturday.
“This is a game about us. We want to put a new standard of Wallaby rugby forward. We want to set the tone for our own campaign. It’s about us,” he said at Sydney airport.
“It’s a new team and we want to play a different way, an Australian style of rugby, and the players have bought in on it. They’re training really well so we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Undaunted by the imposing, lung-busting challenge on the highveld, Jones is selling the season-opening Rugby Championship encounter with the world champion Springboks to his charges as “just a great opportunity”.
“Imagine being in the first team that’s beaten South Africa in Pretoria. Imagine being a part of that team,” said the master motivator.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’ve spoken about it since April. It’s an opportunity to create history here and we want to be the first team that does it.
“So they’ve prepared well this week. We’ve got a couple of days now where you’ve got to adjust to a different time zone so that’s important.
“Anywhere you go, it’s different and you’ve just got to be a team that adapts, finds a way to be at your best and find a way to win. Where there’s a Wallaby, there’s a way.”
While acknowledging the physical test facing the Wallabies, Jones insists busting the 60-year hoodoo in Pretoria is mostly in the head.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Firstly you’ve got to think you can win,” he said.
“The most important thing is to have the mindset that you can win. So you’ve got to be thinking that and we’re 100 per cent committed to winning.
“And then you’ve got to execute a game plan to win enough possession, push them to the other end of the field and keep them under pressure.
“Any way you can – just get up the other end of the field. Whether you run, pass, kick, it doesn’t matter which way you get up there as long as you get up their end of the field.
“The one thing I know is it’s very hard to score from behind your try line.”
Wallabies squad members Andrew Kellaway (hamstring), Jordan Petaia (hand), Matt Philip (calf) and Langi Gleeson (leg) failed to make the trip.
“So they’ll get ready for Argentina or New Zealand, depending on their progress,” Jones said.
“But everybody else is on the plane and at this stage available for selection.”
Cue kiwis itching for a chance to bag Australian rugby
He's just motivated the Springboks further, even though they don't need it....
Eddie all over. Cliché passed off as motivational.
Imagine being in the first team that’s beaten South Africa in Pretoria.
Meh? Just ask the ABs. They can tell you.