Eddie calls truce over war with Cheika

EDDIE Jones has called a truce in his war of words with Michael Cheika, delivering a gushing defence of the underfire Wallaby coach’s record and his shock decision to select Jordan Petaia to start in their World Cup quarter-final.

The two former Randwick teammates have been trading friendly insults for years but with the jobs of both men possibly on the line tomorrow night, Jones offered an olive branch by praising the job Cheika had done with the Wallabies.

“I just think we’ve always been mates, we just don’t see each other very often,” Jones said. “I live in Bagshot [southern England], so it’s pretty hard to get from Bagshot to Coogee for a coffee. So we don’t see each other but I’m proud of him.

“I reckon he’s done a great job for Australian rugby. He has his heart on his sleeve, he gives it everything he’s got. You can’t ask for more than that.”

Cheika has been criticised for chopping and changing the Australian team throughout the World Cup and has sprung another surprise by picking Petaia to start at outside centre against England.

Jones acknowledged that the Wallabies were taking a massive gamble by picking the teenage rookie and he didn’t hide the fact England would try to exploit his inexperience.

But he said if Cheika thought he was up to it, then he almost certainly was.

“He’s a handy player,” Jones said. “I’ve seen enough of him to know he can play a bit, but it’s going to be a big occasion for the boy.

“He’s playing a quarterfinal in front of 40,000 people in Oita, where you know that you don’t get another day.

“This is the day, and for a young player you can rise to the occasion or find it difficult. I don’t know his mindset but if Michael picks him, we would anticipate he’s ready to play.”