Wallabies captain Will Skelton didn’t ask embattled coach Eddie Jones about experiences linking him to Japan, assured the coach was dedicated to Australia with a full overview of the failed World Cup marketing campaign set to be launched.
Jones emphatically rebuked the suggestion he had completed an interview with Japan rugby officers earlier than the World Cup following the Wallabies’ horror loss to Wales that has consigned Australia to its worst ever World Cup end result.
In the aftermath, which included a debrief of the poor efficiency, Skelton mentioned the problem round Jones and Japan was not addressed and was adamant it was not a distraction within the ill-fated marketing campaign as a result of the coach was a “man of his word”.
“No, it wasn’t addressed and no I don’t think it was a distraction,” Skelton mentioned.
“I think it’s something that’s been knocked on the head there … Eddie’s denied it with us. We have full trust in him also. I don’t think it was a distraction leading into the game.
“I don’t have to (ask Jones directly). I heard the press conference last night. I trust in there what he says, he’s a man of his word. He’s got the full support of the group.
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“At the moment we are in a World Cup in France, so we are definitely focused on this at the moment. What happens after that is out of our control.”
Skelton was adamant Jones had his full backing after taking a brush to the squad and casting apart a number of veterans, together with former captain Michael Hooper, which contributed to the World Cup fiasco.
“I think his long-term vision and what he wants Australian rugby to be back to, that’s a positive, the way he is around the group. I think you see in the media, he has his persona around them,” Skelton mentioned.
“He‘s a fantastic coach with a massive rugby IQ that we’re learning every day when we’re working with him.
“He simplifies the game of rugby for us and unfortunately we couldn’t perform up to those standards on the weekend and the weeks gone by to really show that coaching that’s been happening in the last few months. That’s on the players and that’s on us owning that and putting our hands up as well.”
Skelton mentioned he was prepared to participate in a full overview of the disastrous World Cup marketing campaign, with the small print of who will take part and what it’s going to look into but to be introduced.
Players might be included and Skelton, a shock selection as captain amongst many shock Jones picks, mentioned he’d share his perspective on the way it all went so badly flawed.
“That stuff will be out of my hands, but if they ask me questions I’ll be honest,” he mentioned.
“I’m not too sure how that will all transpire.
“If the powers that be think that the review needs to happen it‘ll happen and you (the media) will probably get to find whatever you want to find.
“I‘m sure every player would co-operate.”
Skelton missed the losses first to Fiji after which Wales by way of damage together with star prop Taniela Tupou and doesn’t know whether or not he might be play in Australia’s closing pool recreation in opposition to Portugal subsequent weekend, which may imply he has probably performed his final World Cup match.
“I think I‘m on the wrong side of the age bracket, but I’ve seen older guys go to World Cups,” he mentioned.
“I thought that 2015 was my last World Cup.
“It’s tough. You never come into a campaign to get a couple of losses and almost end the tournament. The boys are really disappointed and gutted. We’ve got one more shot to put out a good performance and that’s what we’re focusing on now.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
