France squad on world cup

AUSTRALIA are on the brink of a World Cup group stage exit for the first time after they were thrashed 40-6 by Wales.

The stunning win places Wales as the first team through to the quarter-finals while the Wallabies now need a miracle to avoid an historic elimination.

Though it was not all good for the Welsh, Dan Biggar landed on his shoulder and was taken off early in the first half.

All it needs now is Fiji is to beat Georgia next weekend and Australia are out.

• Score: Wales 40 Australia 6
• Wales XV: 15 Liam Williams; 14 Louis Rees Zammit, 13 George North, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Jac Morgan (Capt), 6 Aaron Wainwright, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Gareth Thomas.
• Australia XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Tom Hooper, 6 Rob Leota, 5 Richie Arnold, 4 Nick Frost, 3 James Slipper, 2 David Porecki (Capt), 1 Angus Bell.

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It was meant to be the return of the prodigal son, who would kick-start Australian rugby to unexpected World Cup glory. But Eddie Jones’ second Wallabies spell has instead turned into a fiasco.

Some 18 years after he last departed the Australia post, Jones – a coach with a superb World Cup record – was back in his homeland a month after being given the sack by England.

A terrible run of form, dreadful media relationship, shunning of experienced players, apparent secret Japan job interview, unfortunate luck with some injuries and history-making World Cup failure have followed in the eight months – or four months of Tests – since.

• Under-pressure Eddie Jones apologises to Australia | No plans to leave role
• Wales hammer dismal Australia to book World Cup quarter-final spot
• Ireland hold on to beat South Africa in gripping World Cup contest

Below, we look at where it’s gone so wrong for one of rugby’s biggest and most controversial characters…

An inability to pick up victories and dreadful media relationship

Having began his second Wallabies post officially in January 2023, Jones wouldn’t oversee his first game until July’s Rugby Championship, due to the nature of the southern hemisphere rugby season. Once he got going, though, surely even his most ardent critic could not have foreseen the run of results to follow.

Jones had come in to replace former Glasgow Warriors boss Dave Rennie, and though Australia had never been consistent under the Kiwi, they had picked up victories against South Africa, Argentina, Wales, England and Scotland – as well as a Test against the All Blacks they definitely should have won – in the last five months of his employment.

Jones’ opening game saw the Wallabies destroyed 43-12 by South Africa in Pretoria, and followed that up with a 34-31 home defeat by Argentina in Sydney – only the third occasion such a result has occurred in 44 years of the fixture.

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Highlights of the Rugby Championship clash between South Africa and Australia in Pretoria

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Highlights of the Rugby Championship clash between Australia and Argentina

Australia’s third and final Rugby Championship game in the condensed 2023 format then saw them battered 38-7 by New Zealand on home soil in Melbourne.

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Highlights of the Rugby Championship clash between Australia and New Zealand at the MCG in Melbourne

Perhaps their best performance under Jones came in his fourth game, when only an 80th-minute Richie Mo’unga penalty saw New Zealand to a 23-20 win in Dunedin – a result which kept Australia’s losing run going, and would have done a wealth of damage to spirit.

Two weeks from the kick off of the Rugby World Cup in France, they were then well beaten 41-17 by France in Paris, driving further negativity and seeing Jones’ second tenure begin with an appalling 0-5 record.

Australia’s one victory under him so far came when they beat Georgia 35-15 in their World Cup opener, in an unconvincing performance against a Tier 2 side, while a stunning first defeat to Fiji in 69 years followed in Saint-Etienne.

Knowing they then had to beat Wales to realistically stand a chance of progression to the World Cup quarters, the Wallabies put in their worst RWC display in history over the weekend as they were trounced 40-6 by Wales in Lyon – a result which means they are almost certain to exit at the pool stage for the first time ever.

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Highlights from Sunday’s Rugby World Cup action as Wales hammered Australia

All the while, Jones’ relationship and battle with Australian media has gone from uncomfortable to messy, to an unhealthy circus, representing something pretty much untenable.

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Jones bizarrely hit out at journalists at a pre-tournament press conference in Australia

The banishing of experienced players

A stat alluded to by victorious Wales head coach Warren Gatland after Sunday’s match was the sheer difference in Test caps between the sides in Lyon.

Wales named a starting XV containing 855 Test caps, and a wider squad of 23 containing 1025 Test caps. By stark contrast, Australia’s starting XV contained just 455 Test caps – 132 of which belonged to one player in prop James Slipper – and their 23-player squad had 588 Test caps.

It’s a startling fact, but also one which Jones himself has heavily contributed to.

The 63-year-old left out some of Australia’s most experienced and talented performers ahead of the World Cup, whether as a result of potential personality clashes or to make a statement as the main man in charge.

The two most high profile omissions were former captain and legend of Wallabies rugby Michael Hooper (125 Test caps), and mercurial fly-half Quade Cooper (79 Test caps). In retrospect, the leadership and quality the two players would have added to the Australia squad mark their axing as big mistakes.

Utility back Reece Hodge, outside-back Tom Wright and back-row forwards Jed Holloway and Pete Samu were also left off the Australia plane, as Jones made a conscious decision to clear decks in favour of youth.

Of the players who travelled to France, 16 were aged under-25, and some 25 of the 33-player squad appeared at a World Cup for the very first time.

The squad’s average age of 25 years and 10 months is the youngest at the tournament, and the squad has visibly lacked belief.

The fact Jones has, ridiculously, named six different captains in his seven Tests in charge so far adds to the argument it has been a squad and management utterly without clarity or direction.

Secret Japan job interview on eve of World Cup?

And what about this to throw into the mix? Last week, in the lead up to the crunch clash vs Wales, the Sydney Morning Herald produced an explosive exclusive that Jones had undertaken a Zoom interview to become the next Japan head coach after the World Cup, days before the start of Australia’s campaign.

Neither the Japan Rugby Union nor their Australian counterparts have denied the story, and seemingly all within rugby have accepted as an open secret that talks did in fact take place.

The controversy for this – notwithstanding the fact it was on the cusp of the sport’s major tournament beginning – is that Jones signed a five-year contract with Rugby Australia when he joined in January, to cover this World Cup, the 2025 Lions Tour and the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Why, then, is he making potential plans to depart already?

It is almost certainly this move, more than any, that led to a chorus of loud boos from Wallabies supporters every time Jones was shown on the big screens at Parc Olympique Lyonnais. They’ve clearly read his actions as a non-commitment, and want him out.

The fact Jones has placed Australia in a position of a rebuild, with so many young players, would be a further blow to the union should he just up and leave.

“I know Eddie has come out and made his comments around it, and I take people for their word and Eddie’s said there’s nothing in it, and so we move forward,” Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said this weekend.

“It’s surprising but, as I said, you take people for their word and you trust they’re telling you the truth.”

Current Wallabies assistant coach Jason Ryles added: “I see his vision beyond the World Cup and it’s one of those things where he hasn’t said anything to us, obviously.

“Basically, watch this space. To walk away from that would be a bit of a surprise because there is a lot of green shoots for the future. I’m not too sure what he’ll do to be honest with you. It’s good to have options by the sounds of it.”

Reading between the lines, it seems Jones may well be back with the Brave Blossoms come November…

Unfortunate luck with injuries?

If there is one possible defence Jones could point to, it would perhaps be some of the untimely injuries his squad has picked up in and around this World Cup.

Tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa, who has 66 Test Wallabies caps, was named one of Jones’ captains before the tournament, but suffered a ruptured Achilles just prior.

Second row Will Skelton, one of the premier forwards in the world club game with La Rochelle as a double European champion over the last two seasons, missed the pool games against Fiji and Wales due to a calf injury picked up in training, after being named as Wallabies skipper.

And finally, Taniela Tupou had marked himself out as one of the most exciting, powerful and dynamic props in the sport, but a hamstring injury saw him fail to take to the pitch vs Fiji and Wales also.

While the absences of Skelton and Tupou in particular were big blows, every side at the World Cup deals with injuries, and the fact Australia avoided the tougher side of the draw containing the world’s top four sides in Ireland, South Africa, France and New Zealand, means there is ultimately no real excuse for their performances.

Ireland begin their World Cup warm-up matches by hosting Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Head coach Andy Farrell has named an experimental matchday squad for his side’s first fixture since clinching the Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam in March.

Here, the PA news agency picks out some of the main talking points ahead of Saturday evening’s match.

“Silver lining” of Sexton’s ban

Johnny Sexton’s three-match suspension has opened the door for his rival fly-halves to gain some much-needed international experience this month. Jack Crowley is the first to be handed an opportunity to impress. The 23-year-old’s selection is reward for his fine form for Munster, which included United Rugby Championship glory in May. Uncapped Ciaran Frawley awaits his chance on the bench, with fellow Leinster player Ross Byrne – Sexton’s main understudy during the Six Nations – hoping for involvement against England and Samoa in the coming weeks. Forwards coach Paul O’Connell described game time for the rookie trio as a “real good silver lining” to Sexton’s undesirable situation.

Staking a claim

Ireland’s World Cup hopefuls have just three games to secure places on the plane to France, with Farrell due to cut his 42-man squad down to 33 on August 28. Only three men – Robbie Henshaw, Caelan Doris and Ryan Baird – have retained starting roles from Ireland’s Six Nations success over England in March in a much-changed matchday 23. Many of the others are on the periphery and fighting for a spot. Lock Joe McCarthy and prop Tom O’Toole will make their first and second Test starts respectively, while potential debutants Frawley, Calvin Nash and Tom Stewart are joined on the bench by Connacht rookies Cian Prendergast and Caolin Blade.

Rare start for Stockdale

Jacob Stockdale was player of the championship during Ireland’s 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam win and a guaranteed starter at the last World Cup. But his international career has very much hit the buffers. The 27-year-old is set to make his first Test appearance for more than two years and just his sixth start of the Farrell era. James Lowe has emerged as Ireland’s first choice on the left wing, yet Keith Earls, who wins his 99th cap this weekend, is the only current squad member to have scored more Ireland tries than Stockdale (19). Farrell believes the Ulster player is still capable of being a “tremendous asset”.

Maintaining momentum

Tadhg Beirne, who is among the replacements, this week pointed to poor warm-up performances contributing to Ireland’s underwhelming World Cup campaign in Japan four years ago. Farrell and members of his squad have repeatedly stressed the Italy fixture is far from a friendly as, in addition to individuals competing for places, they attempt to maintain collective momentum going into the tournament in France. Ireland are bidding for an 11th successive win and a 15th on the bounce at home to protect their number one world ranking. They have lost just one of 21 Aviva Stadium fixtures under Farrell – to France in 2021.

England-born pair switch allegiances

Azzurri head coach Kieran Crowley has made nine personnel changes from last weekend’s 25-13 Murrayfield loss to Scotland, including naming two debutants of interest to English rugby fans: Paolo Odogwu and Dino Lamb. Coventry-born Odogwu, a former Sale and Wasps player, trained with England during Eddie Jones’ tenure. The 26-year-old will line up on Italy’s right wing, while Harlequins’ ex-England Under-20 international Lamb has been picked in the second row having also switched allegiances. Crowley’s selection is strong as Italy go in search of a first success on Irish soil since 1997 to add to their recent scalps of Wales and Australia.

Iain Henderson has backed Ireland and Ulster team-mate Jacob Stockdale to return to his devastating best as he bids to force his way into Andy Farrell’s World Cup squad.

Stockdale will make his first international appearance in more than two years in Saturday evening’s warm-up clash with Italy following a difficult period in his stalled Test career.

The 27-year-old wing was player of the championship when his seven tries helped Ireland clinch a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2018 and first choice on the left flank under Joe Schmidt at the following year’s World Cup in Japan.

But, in part due to injuries, he has struggled to make an impact during the Farrell era and has work to do to ensure he is on the plane to France having slipped behind James Lowe and Mack Hansen in the pecking order.

Lock Henderson, who will captain his country against the Azzurri, believes Stockdale still possesses the attributes and quality to rediscover top form.

“Jacob’s an incredible athlete, you still see him in training doing phenomenal things,” he said.

“At that time (2018), our team was in a hot run of form and Jacob finished off a lot of very well-created tries from the whole team.

“He still has all of those athletic attributes, he still has the mindset and desire, he still has age on his side.

“For anyone who knows Jacob personally, he’s not one to give up in terms of any sort of argument or fight you get into with him.

“Knowing his personality, knowing what he has, I don’t think there’s any reason why we shouldn’t see another 2018 Jacob Stockdale coming out again. I think that’s exciting for him, exciting for everyone else.

“He knows himself he has to be patient and continue to work away. He won’t throw the head up and I know Jacob will plug away at it.”

Only five men – Brian O’Driscoll, Keith Earls, Tommy Bowe, Denis Hickie and Shane Horgan – have scored more tries for Ireland than Stockdale.

Yet 14 of his 19 Test scores came in the first 17 of his 35 caps and he has become a peripheral figure in recent years, not helped by knee and ankle issues.

Henderson admits Stockdale has been frustrated by his international exile.

“After that ankle injury was the explosion of Mack Hansen, and James Lowe is obviously a phenomenal player too,” said the 31-year-old.

“The two wings are positions that are hotly-contested and there’s incredible depth, thankfully, in our country.

“Jacob fully understood that coming in last autumn, he knew he would have his work cut out, and again through the Six Nations both of those guys were in top form and injury-free.

“I know Jacob found it incredibly frustrating not being able to get an opportunity over the course of those two campaigns but he knew if he kept plugging away that he would eventually get one.

“He has trained incredibly well and he is rightly being rewarded.”

With Johnny Sexton suspended and James Ryan and Peter O’Mahony given the weekend off, Henderson will skipper Ireland for the second time.

The Aviva Stadium was empty due to coronavirus restrictions the last time he led out his country – a 15-13 Six Nations loss to France in 2021 – but around 42,000 fans are expected this weekend.

“Faz (Farrell) said I was going to be captain and I was over the moon,” said Henderson.

“This is going to be incredibly special for me to have my family at this.”