Australia head coach Eddie Jones takes “full accountability” for the Wallabies’ 22-15 defeat to Fiji in Sunday’s Rugby World Cup conflict; Australia now in three-way battle for qualification from Pool C with Fiji and Wales
Final Up to date: 17/09/23 11:27pm
Australia’s head coach Eddie Jones took accountability for the defeat to Fiji
Eddie Jones shouldered the blame for Australia’s 22-15 shock defeat to Fiji on the Rugby World Cup which left the race to qualify for the quarter-finals from Pool C huge open.
Josea Tuisova’s attempt to 14 factors from goal-kicker Simione Kuruvoli helped the Pacific Islanders file their first-ever win over the Wallabies at a World Cup, and first in opposition to them in any match since 1954.
Australia head coach Jones made no secret of how a lot the loss damage and took full accountability for the outcome, which marked the staff’s sixth loss in seven Exams this 12 months.
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Eddie Jones says Australia’s followers ought to prepare for his or her conflict in opposition to Wales and admits it was his fault for the Wallabies’ loss in opposition to Fiji.
“It hurts personally, 100 per cent,” Jones stated. “I am 100 per cent answerable for it. I’ve gone down the road of selecting a younger staff and I would like this younger staff to be staff.
“In the mean time we had a nasty day at this time, which might occur, and we have got to be higher subsequent week, in order that’s my accountability.
“We began the sport very uncharacteristically not like us. We have been actually sharp initially of video games. We have performed with a good bit of tempo and precision, and so they have been sloppy.
“From that, we had instances within the recreation the place we received on the entrance foot, however we struggled to get on the entrance foot and subsequently, congratulations to Fiji. They performed rather well and it is a deserved victory for them and I am actually happy for them as a staff, and we have got some work to do.”
Australia have been dealt a blow earlier than kick-off when captain Will Skelton was pressured to withdraw from the line-up because of harm, with vice-captain Tate McDermott and prop Taniela Tupou sidelined because of harm as properly.
The Wallabies continually discovered themselves on the fallacious aspect of referee Andrew Brace too, conceding 18 penalties – 11 of which got here on the breakdown. Jones, nonetheless, didn’t use the absences as an excuse.
“We will not blame the loss on Tupou or Skelton not being there,” Jones stated. “We have to be adequate to have the ability to address that.
“The penalties, once you’re not on the entrance foot, it is fairly straightforward to offer away penalties so I am not anxious about our self-discipline. I am anxious about not getting on the entrance foot.
Australia’s gamers have been left dejected after their loss to Fiji
“Any recreation of rugby, you have to get on the entrance foot. If you cannot get on the entrance foot, then you definitely’re battling it.
“It was at all times going to be a tricky day when it comes to the officiating of the sport. We knew that, I anticipated that, however we weren’t adequate to deal with it.”
Australia now face an enormous conflict with Wales in Pool C on Sunday, September 24 as they purpose to keep away from struggling an exit on the group stage of the World Cup for the primary time of their historical past.
Jones did, nonetheless, handle to discover a Positive for the long run to take from the defeat, with the Australia staff on the pitch on the finish of the match being the youngest when it comes to common age they’ve fielded since 1995.
“Look, we have gone with a younger staff,” Jones stated. “I’ve received no regrets in any respect. We’re constructing a staff for the long run; we will undergo some ache.
“We’re doing our best possible and I apologise. It is my fault. I take full accountability for it.
“I used to be actually happy with the character the younger staff confirmed. When Fiji is on the entrance foot in a reasonably hostile setting, it could have been straightforward for our staff to go away however they did not.
“So, amongst the gloom, there’s some actually promising issues there, significantly from the youthful gamers.”