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'He knows he's not going to win this': South African pundits call Eddie Jones' bluff
By Kim Ekin
South African rugby pundits have called Eddie Jones’ bluff after four straight losses to start his second stint as head coach of the Wallabies.
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The Australian head coach has maintained his side is on track for a ‘smash and grab’ Rugby World Cup despite not seeing any wins so far.
The Wallabies have improved since their 43-12 defeat in Pretoria while Jones ended up leaving out two big names Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper from his final World Cup squad.
Former South African coach Robbi Kempson believed that the axing of the veterans showed that Jones had an eye towards 2027 with France now being used as an experience builder for young players like Carter Gordon and Tate McDermott.
“Absolutely, steady Eddie is not the most stupid chap out there,” Kempson said.
“Importantly for Eddie, I personally think he knows he’s not going to win this [Rugby World Cup].
“He might be telling the world he is but he said that about England and look where they are.
“He is literally taking the majority as youngsters that will be there at the World Cup in 2027, where he would like to win it at home.
“That’s the important thing. For him I think he sees that as the bigger picture.
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“Yes he’s going to be competitive, he’s on the easier side of the draw, but he’s got his mind down the line for sure.”
Former Lions head coach Swys de Bruin doesn’t believe that Jones has that long of a rope with Rugby Australia to underperform in 2023.
If the Wallabies are dumped out of the World Cup with a poor showing that could be the end of Eddie according to the coach.
The former Springboks assistant couldn’t believe that Jones would rid the squad of experience heading into the pressure-cooker environment at a World Cup.
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“He won’t see 2027 as far as I’m concerned if he loses,” de Bruin said.
“If I can jump back to Hooper and Cooper with Eddie Jones.
“Talking about senior players, how do you drop two senior players like that?
“Very easy in my opinion if they are coach killers. I’m not saying they are, but if they are more important than the team.
“No one is bigger than the game.”
To be fair who thought SA would win the last WC with their form before the tournament. Not saying Wallabies will win but there's going to be plenty of twists to this WC. And you need some luck along the way like a quarter against Japan, a semi against Wales and then a final against England after a brutal match against NZ. SA improved during the tournament and played teams suited to them in the finals. Wallabies could well get some help from the draw as well.