Jones found time to nominate the side he expects his Wallaby opposite Michael Cheika will pick for the start of the three tests series.
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Former Australia mentor Jones – in camp on the Gold Coast ahead of Saturday’s first Test at Suncorp Stadium – told the Courier-Mail yesterday that he wasn’t falling for Cheika’s attempted selection decoys, declaring there would be “no shocks” in his match-day 23.
“He’s a great talent, he’s been playing consistently well”, he said.
Itoje’s height and athleticism is seen as a way for England to counter Australian pairing Michael Hooper and David Pocock.
So far Jones’ mind games aren’t working on Australia.
“We’re the 2016 Wallaby team and that’s something we want to push forward”. I’ve played against him a few times and he was very good in those games. They think Super Rugby at the moment is much better than the Six Nations. “While some of that could be true it’s up to us to prove that it’s not”.
“England are coming down here to test themselves”. They are second in the world and we want to be up there fighting for first spot. Well, they’ve got to play and beat the southern hemisphere teams.
“Their skill levels are really good”.
“Eddie hasn’t really thrown many barbs”.
“Their work ethic is fantastic”.
The last post held by Ella was with Fiji in 2009 and his CV also includes stints at Australia and Canada. “Yes, it’d be a great experience to link up with Eddie again but we’ve got to do the job here first, we’ll worry about it afterwards”.
“I’ve coached all over the world – with John Kirwan in Italy, with Fiji”. It’s like riding a bike. “He has the intent to hit people, knock them back and dominate that gainline, control the gainline, the momentum and pace of the ball”, Gustard said. He’s just doing what he thinks his team needs, so that’s what he’s doing to support his team.
“Marler on the senior tour declined to go to Australia and now players are climbing all over that position”, he explained.
“I am not saying even always winning, more performing the best we possibly can to get that kind of respect”.
“The impact is minimal at this stage but hopefully, come the third Test, they’ll be switched on and moving”.
“You do need to change”. You’re not going to make massive increments over one session.
“Sometimes you just can’t compete with the pound, that’s the way it is”. It’s a time thing.
“We would have loved to have Ben back here playing for Australia”, said Cheika.
“All I want to do is produce a side that wins”.
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“I spoke a fair bit to Ben before he went over to Leinster because it’s my old club. I don’t want my players to think all that stuff’s going to win us the game”.
