Countdown to the World Cup in Japan DON’T LOSE YOUR EDS! Bust-up rumours, suspensions and injuries.... but England coach Jones says: Adapting is all part of preparing for the World Cup
RUGBY UNION WALES AIMING FOR THE TOP GARETH FEELS ALE & HEARTY Barrett sees red and may miss out
Australia 47 New Zealand 26
ROADS to World Cups are rarely smooth — but Eddie Jones must be wondering what has hit him.
England’s competitive countdown could hardly be starting in more chaotic circumstances with disciplinary and injury disruption ahead of today’s warm-up game against Wales.
Coach Jones refused to comment yesterday on reports that Ben Te’o (right, top) and Mike Brown’s (right, bottom) exclusion from the squad last week revolved around an altercation between them on a night out at England’s Treviso training camp.
The England coach had plenty WALES will displace the All Blacks as the No.1 side in the world if they avoid defeat against England at Twickenham.
New Zealand have been top of the rankings for a decade but their surprise 47-26 loss to Australia yesterday has opened the door for Wales to leapfrog them and reach the rankings summit for the first time.
Wales’s run of 14 matches without defeat means the Six Nations champions go into the game as on his plate anyway rearranging the team for the Twickenham game with the original line- up dropping like flies.
Out went Henry Slade ( knee), Ruaridh Mcconnochie ( hip) p) and Sam Underhill (toe) yesterday y to injuries picked up in training leaving Jones to whistle up Jonathan Joseph,
Joe Cokanasiga and Lewis Ludlam to the starting linee- up. It will be Ludlam’s debut.
Courtney Lawes and
Manu Tuilagi were also called in with England’s best-laid plans in disarray.
“It is all part of a World Cup campaign, adapting, adjusting, bring people in and out, finding your role,” said Jones. “Some of them picked up a few knocks in training, but we want players to favourites. “There is probably a bit of pressure on us because of that,” said Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones, who becomes his country’s most-capped player when he makes his 135th Test appearance.
“But we know what we’ve achieved, how we have achieved it and how we can improve. Our record speaks for itself.”
Cunderstand it is a squad of 23. They have a role starting or finishing or you are in the non-23 supporting the squad.
“We’re in a World Cup campaign so we want to be ready when we ge get on the plane by S September 8.
“We want to win every game, but the fact is what a are people going to remembe ber this year if we get a d dusting by Wales and we win the World Cup?”
With Wales near to full strength, an England side w which was experimental enough even before yesterday’s rejig could get dusted.
But Jones seems unperturbed, deeming any pre- tournament momentum irrelevant.
He added: “It does not apply in
GARETH DAVIES has already been offered enough free beer to fill a reservoir, but he’s greedy for more — starting with a postmatch tab today.
The Wales scrum-half — whose team went top of the world rankings thanks to Australia’s 47-26 win over New Zealand yesterday — still gets invited to sup at someone else’s expense four the warm-ups. It is zero. It starts when you get to the World Cup. Imagine having momentum now? The World Cup is six or seven weeks away.
“No team in the world keeps momentum for that period of time. When do you want momentum? When you get to the World Cup.
“I have to take the course I think is right. This is my fourth World Cup. I think I have a pretty good idea of how we should prepare.”
Fighting on nights out supposed to be in place to help the players bond would not be on any preparation list but Jones did his best to deflect heat from the fall-out from the Italian heat camp.
“I do not have anything to say on that. I never comment on why players are not selected. I am not about to start now,” said Jones. years after his try helped knock out England in their own 2015 World Cup.
“Every now and again someone mentions it and wants to buy me a beer — and I still get tagged in mentions of it on social media,” says Davies (left), ahead of today’s World Cup warm-up before the tournament in Japan.
“Scoring that try at Twickenham is one of the highlights of my career. Hopefully, I can have more memories like that in the next couple of months.” AUSTRALIA took advantage of Scott Barrett’s first-half red card to record their highest-ever score against New Zealand.
Referee Jerome Garces adjudged that second-row Barrett’s no-arm tackle on Australia captain Michael Hooper was dangerous and worthy of dismissal.
Barrett, 25, is now sweating over his World Cup place as he could be banned for six Tests.
The All Blacks begin the defence of their crown against South Africa on September 21 and coach Steve Hansen said: “They were the best side on the day. The red card didn’t help us but we didn’t help ourselves either.
“Our discipline was poor in the first half. It was dumb footy and we’ve got to be smarter than that.”
Barrett’s sendingoff arrived just before half-time in Perth as the Wallabies – thanks to Reece Hodge’s try and the boot of Christian Lealiifano – took a 16-12 interval lead.
And Australia exploited the extra space to run in five further tries to rack up a record tally against their TransTasman rivals.
Lukhan SalakaiaLoto, Nic White, Marika Koroibete, Kurtley Beale and Hodge all crossed after the break to stun New Zealand.
The second Bledisloe Test takes place in Auckland next week.