VIDEO: Eddie Jones' ugly media spat - stay the pessimists you are
Defiant coach Eddie Jones turned on the media as the Wallabies prepared to fly out for the World Cup in France, saying they’re determined to prove their critics wrong.
Winless in four Tests since replacing Dave Rennie in January, the pressure on Jones has rocketed ahead of the tournament which gets underway next month.
Jones made a number of shock selection choices last week in his World Cup squad, including dumping long-time captain Michael Hooper and veteran playmaker Quade Cooper, who has refused to answer any phone calls from the veteran coach.
A testy Jones was unhappy to be probed about his player selection at Sydney airport before the team’s departure and said the media were too negative.
He described the press conference as the worst he had experienced in his many years in world rugby.
“I know what’s wrong with Australian rugby and you blokes are part of the problem because you’re so bloody negative about everything,” Jones said.
“We’re going off to a World Cup you think we can’t win, you think the selection process is bad because the players complain.
“We’re terrible.
“You know we’re terrible.
“Just tell us we’re terrible and we’ll prove you wrong.”
He blasted the media, saying they must continue to ‘drag Australia rugby down’ and must “stay the pessimists your are”.
“I can’t believe all the negativity here boys,” he said.
“I know what’s wrong with Australian rugby and part of you blokes are the problem because you’re so bloody negative about everything.”
He said he can ‘feel the negativity’.
“I’ve got to wash myself off, it’s sticking to me.
After 10 combative minutes, Jones lobbed one last grenade as left for the plane.
“Thanks for the worst press conference I’ve had in world rugby,” he said.
“That is the worst I’ve ever seen.
“You ought to give yourselves uppercuts, boys, fair dinkum.”
(WATCH as Wallaby coach Eddie Jones blow up at the Australian media over their ‘negative’ questions…)
Jones said Cooper, who was overlooked with youngster Carter Gordon the preferred No.10, was “very upset” and he had tried to make contact with the 35-year-old.
“I tried to ring him and I can’t get a hold of him – that’s all I can do,” Jones said.
“I’m disappointed the players are upset but all I can do is ring. If they don’t take your phone call you can’t talk to them.”
Jones is adamant there needs to be a generational change.
Cooper, who was widely expected to be on the plane as first-choice flyhalf, has refused to return Jones’s calls.
Pressed on whether he had personally spoken to the 79-Test veteran, Jones got even more flustered.
“I’m disappointed the player is upset, but all I can do is ring them.
“If they don’t take the phone call, you can’t talk to them,” he said.
“What do you want me to do? Tell me.
“Then why keep asking about it?
“I don’t know why you’re back to that,” he added.
“That’s probably reflective of Australian rugby, we’ve got to move on and we’re moving on to the World Cup.”
Australia will open their World Cup campaign against Georgia in Paris on September 9 before facing Fiji, Wales and Portugal in Pool C.
Only eight players in the 33-man squad have played at a World Cup before, with three debutants including scrum-half Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 18-year-old back Max Jorgensen, and prop Blake Schoupp.
But Jones insisted it was the “right balance of energy and enthusiasm”.
“We’ve got youth on our side, we’re ready to go,” he said.
“None of you guys think we can do any good, and that’s all right.
“The challenge for us as a group is to show you that we can, and show ourselves that we can.”
Source: AAP & AFP
* Watch the full Eddie Jones presser below …
