Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Eddie Jones: ‘This could be the World Cup that no one will ever forget’

Antoine Dupont of France salutes the supporters following the 2023 Summer International rugby match between France and Australia at Stade de France on August 27, 2023 in Saint-Denis near Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

With less than two weeks to go until the upcoming Rugby World Cup, Stade de France hosted an enthralling battle between Les Bleus and Australia on Sunday.

ADVERTISEMENT

The players came to play, and so did the fans.

Thousands filled the stands at the world-famous rugby venue, and they were in full voice for the entire 80 minutes – and half-time, as well. That unbelievable atmosphere set the stage for “the World Cup that no one will ever forget”

Earlier that weekend, Fiji made history on the field as they recorded their first-ever win over England in seven meetings. The Flying Fijians celebrated accordingly, and so did their fans in attendance at Twickenham.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

Fiji surged up two places to seventh on the World Rugby rankings, while Steve Borthwick’s England have fallen to eighth place. That result, along with some other surprises, shows how unpredictable Test rugby is ahead of next month’s World Cup.

Samoa were beating Ireland at half-time, South Africa dominated the previously undefeated 2023 All Blacks, and France put on a show against an improving Wallabies outfit.

“It’s really good to see… a country like Fiji go to Twickenham, beat England. It’s great for the competition, great for Fijian rugby,” coach Eddie Jones told reporters after the Wallabies’ 41-17 loss to Les Bleus.

“You come to this game today, which for both teams is a game to get ready for the World Cup. You’ve got 80,000 people, you’ve got a fantastic atmosphere, this could be the World Cup that no one will ever forget.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Then you’ve got Fiji causing an upset over England at Twickenham which adds even more flavour to the competition. Samoa runs Ireland close.

“It’s great for World Rugby, great for Fiji, and I’m sure they get a lot of confidence out of it and great for the tournament mate.”

England struck first via the boot of playmaker George Ford, and added another five points to their tally a few minutes later with Jonny May crossing for a try.

For a team under pressure, it was an idyllic start in front of their home fans at the home of English Rugby.

ADVERTISEMENT

But tries to Waisea Nayacalevu, Vinaya Habosi and Simione Kuruvoli saw Fiji run away with it in the end. They led 8-20 with just over 20 minutes to play, and held on for a historic win.

“What a game, what a result beating England at Twickenham, and really a full-strength England as well,” New Zealand broadcaster James McOnie said on Weekend Sport with Jason Pine.

Related

“Obviously Owen Farrell (and Billy) Vunipola in the stands but wow, what a result.

“If you go back throughout history, yes Fiji have had some really great World Cup results, but even looking at Samoa going close to beating Ireland, this is the closest that the tier two nations have got since Western Samoa, as they were called, shocked the world in 1991.

“This is incredible just seeing those nations, and who knows what Tonga can do as well.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 41 | Investec Champions Cup final preview

Hong Kong China vs Kazakhstan | Asia Rugby Emirates Women's Championship | Match Highlights

Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Quarter Final Replay

Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
M
Muti Man 633 days ago

Eddie sure ain't going to forget this world cup...with him pulling a Jake White by enlisting a top coach from a rival team to assist in the campaign....

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Solenn Bonnet 11 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Fissler Confidential: The latest England international to snub Leicester Tigers Fissler Confidential: The latest England international to snub Tigers
Search