Eddie Jones is finding it tough to call the upcoming Bledisloe Cup clash as the All Blacks grapple with instability, facing a Wallabies team that has undergone significant changes. Speaking on the Rugby Unity podcast, the former Wallabies coach dissected the current state of affairs within both camps.
Jones pointed out the All Blacks' recent heavy loss to the Springboks and noted the limited changes Scott Robertson has made to the starting line-up, driven mostly by injuries or returns from absence. The loss of Scott Barrett, he emphasized, has particularly unsettled the New Zealand squad. "The hosts are in a massive state of flux," Jones remarked, highlighting the absence of Barrett who "has been the most stable tight five forward."
The ex-Australia coach also critiqued the All Blacks' second-row options, expressing doubts about their effectiveness. "You’ve got a young guy in [Fabian] Holland and that Tupou Vaa’i, who’s been doing most of his best work after the whistle," he commented, questioning the team's stability.
"I really struggle to see where either team can be dominant,"
Jones further speculated on Robertson's demeanor during the recent press conference: "I just watched a little bit of Scott Robertson doing his press conference because I think it always gives you a pretty good indication of where the team is at," he said. Despite Robertson's outward appearance, Jones sensed internal tension, alluding to the coach’s forced positivity. "He probably had someone telling him to, ‘smile, smile, it’s the best day of your life’. He’s up there thinking, ‘this bloke told me it’s the best day of my life, but it’s not really the best day of my life, I’ve just lost my captain’."
Turning his attention to the Wallabies, Jones acknowledged their own challenges, particularly missing key players like Will Skelton and Rob Valetini. The consistency in the backline remains disrupted except for Joseph Suaalii and Corey Toole maintaining their positions from the previous match against Argentina.
Despite some views of improvement within the Australian camp, Jones offered a reality check: "The only other thing I would say is that Australia have done really well but, everything they’re saying about Australia being consistent, the bottom line is they’ve won three of seven Tests, so they’re still a team in development."
With both teams facing their unique pressures, this Bledisloe Cup matchup promises to be as unpredictable as it is critical, leaving fans and analysts alike pondering which side will emerge victorious amidst the turmoil.
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Eddie Jones is finding it tough to call the upcoming Bledisloe Cup clash as the All Blacks grapple with instability, facing a Wallabies team that has undergone significant changes. Speaking on the Rugby Unity podcast, the former Wallabies coach dissected the current state of affairs within both camps.
Jones pointed out the All Blacks' recent heavy loss to the Springboks and noted the limited changes Scott Robertson has made to the starting line-up, driven mostly by injuries or returns from absence. The loss of Scott Barrett, he emphasized, has particularly unsettled the New Zealand squad. "The hosts are in a massive state of flux," Jones remarked, highlighting the absence of Barrett who "has been the most stable tight five forward."
The ex-Australia coach also critiqued the All Blacks' second-row options, expressing doubts about their effectiveness. "You’ve got a young guy in [Fabian] Holland and that Tupou Vaa’i, who’s been doing most of his best work after the whistle," he commented, questioning the team's stability.
"I really struggle to see where either team can be dominant,"
Jones further speculated on Robertson's demeanor during the recent press conference: "I just watched a little bit of Scott Robertson doing his press conference because I think it always gives you a pretty good indication of where the team is at," he said. Despite Robertson's outward appearance, Jones sensed internal tension, alluding to the coach’s forced positivity. "He probably had someone telling him to, ‘smile, smile, it’s the best day of your life’. He’s up there thinking, ‘this bloke told me it’s the best day of my life, but it’s not really the best day of my life, I’ve just lost my captain’."
Turning his attention to the Wallabies, Jones acknowledged their own challenges, particularly missing key players like Will Skelton and Rob Valetini. The consistency in the backline remains disrupted except for Joseph Suaalii and Corey Toole maintaining their positions from the previous match against Argentina.
Despite some views of improvement within the Australian camp, Jones offered a reality check: "The only other thing I would say is that Australia have done really well but, everything they’re saying about Australia being consistent, the bottom line is they’ve won three of seven Tests, so they’re still a team in development."
With both teams facing their unique pressures, this Bledisloe Cup matchup promises to be as unpredictable as it is critical, leaving fans and analysts alike pondering which side will emerge victorious amidst the turmoil.