Western Daily Press (Saturday)
‘Eddie remains the right person to lead Wallabies’
WALLABIES assistant head coach Pierre-Henry Broncan believes that Eddie Jones is “the right person” to lead Australia out of their Rugby World Cup slump.
Australia are on the brink of poolstage elimination for the first time in World Cup history.
Fiji need five points from their last two games against Georgia and Portugal to send the Wallabies out and confirm a last-eight place alongside Wales from Pool C.
And that is assuming Australia do not do the unthinkable and slip up again against Portugal.
Former England boss Jones has received fierce criticism from many quarters following Australia’s record 40-6 loss to Wales in Lyon last weekend. He has also been strongly linked to coaching Japan after the tournament, suggesting that the appointment with Portugal tomorrow might be his farewell.
Asked if Jones is the right man to lead Australia forwards, Broncan said: “Yes, of course. I am sure about it because he is a great coach.
“I understand everything about it and I think in his head he wants now to find the best solution for the Australia national team and his country. He is the right person.”
And flanker Tom Hooper added: “I just think everyone is really happy Eddie is our coach at the moment. We have developed really well under him as a young team.
“He has had a hard task to take us forward. I have certainly gained a lot from being coached under him. Whoever the coach is, as a young team and as a playing group in Australia everyone is going to put in for whoever has the job and if that’s Eddie, that would be just as good.
“He had some really encouraging words for us on the night after (Wales) – and that will stay in house – but he is a great mentor. He made sure the boys were up. He is always looking after us (as) number one, even to the point when he will sometimes fall on his sword for us.”
England, Wales and Ireland all have the weekend off, but Scotland are in action against Romania today.
Argentina against Chile, and Fiji versus Georgia take place before the Scotland game today, while South Africa against Tonga follows the Australia match tomorrow.
Having faced Hartpury in the Premiership Rugby Cup last night, Gloucester Rugby also put out a side to play the Barbarians in a fixture to help celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary season today.
Summer signing Zach Mercer is set to make his Gloucester debut at number eight, while Dragons players Josh Reynolds and Che Hope guest for the Cherry & Whites.
Gloucester Rugby: R Dunn; A Hearle, L HillmanCooper, S Atkinson, O Thorley; A Hastings, C Chapman; J Reynolds, G McGuigan, K Gotovtsev, F Clarke, A Clark (capt), R Ackermann, H Taylor, Z Mercer. Replacements: J Singleton, J Pollard, J Ford-Robinson, E Hunt, N Smith, C Hope, R Taylor, I Jones.
Taunton Titans host the Rams in National League One, while Chinnor is the destination for Cinderford.
In National Two South, Clifton away to Chester, and Dings at Hinckley are among the fixtures.