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'Well done to that fan': Eddie Jones reacts to leaked Wallabies draft
By Finn Morton
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones made international headlines last weekend after he was caught drafting a potential Wallabies squad during Super Round in Melbourne.
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Jones was sitting “with the punters” at AAMI Park, and was spotted writing down team lists for an international camp in April.
An eagle-eyed supporter took a photo of Jones’ Wallabies plans, and shared the image on Twitter – although it has since been deleted.
After an impressive start to the Super Rugby season, rising stars Max Jorgensen and Tom Lynagh appear to be on the cusp of higher honours after featuring in Jones’ plans.
But speaking on his podcast Eddie, Jones reminded rugby fans that it was just a first draft.
Looking to usher in a new era of Australian rugby, Jones expects to make “45 drafts” before naming his first Wallabies squad.
“I’m always doing selections. That (April camp) selections will have 45 drafts, I don’t know what went up on Twitter but by the time I’d finished up, I was already on draft four,: Jones said on Eddie.
“It’s quite inconsequential but you can’t trust anyone these days. Sometimes I’m too trustworthy, I was just sitting put there with the punters because I like it and was watching a game or in-between games that wasn’t really capturing me so I decided to scribble down some names.
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“I’ve done another three or four drafts and when we get those assistant coaches in we’ll build that squad up.
“Well done to that fan, they should get a wrap and I’m sure they’re popular on Twitter with their 19 seconds of fame.”
With this year’s Rugby World Cup in France just six months away, the battle for Wallabies jerseys will undoubtedly heat up throughout Super Rugby Pacific.
And there’s no better example than an Australian blockbuster on Saturday.
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The competition for places will hit second gear on Saturday as the Brumbies host rivals the Queensland Reds in Canberra.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is expecting a tough challenge against some of the “best players in Australia.”
“They’re a very exciting team to watch, they’ve got a number of players who are dangerous across the park,” he said.
“When you’ve got that many players across the board who are dangerous, it’s too hard to concentrate on them,.. we’re looking forward to that challenge.”
