{"id":290205,"date":"2023-09-08T08:38:39","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T08:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/?p=290205"},"modified":"2023-09-08T08:38:39","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T08:38:39","slug":"eddie-jones-launches-bizarre-rant-ahead-of-world-cup-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/rugby-union\/eddie-jones-launches-bizarre-rant-ahead-of-world-cup-opener\/","title":{"rendered":"Eddie Jones launches bizarre rant ahead of World Cup opener"},"content":{"rendered":"
Eddie Jones is renowned for his mind games – and the Wallabies\u00a0coach was at his animated best during a press conference ahead of Australia’s World Cup opener against Georgia.<\/p>\n
Jones, 63, joked that ‘World Rugby was in the room’, have ‘listening devices everywhere’ and are ‘always in the shadows’.<\/span><\/p>\n He also stressed it was important that teams at the World Cup ‘don’t have a black mark against their name’ with game-day officials.<\/span><\/p>\n It comes as English referee Luke\u00a0Pearce was confirmed as the man in the middle for Australia’s Pool C clash on Sunday (2am, AEST) against the Eastern Europeans.<\/p>\n Pearce officiated the Wallabies’ last start 41-17 defeat against France – and got under Jones’ skin after he sin-binned winger Suliasi Vunivalu for an infringement many felt was a harsh call.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wallabies coach Eddie Jones wants the referees to let games flow at the World Cup<\/p>\n <\/p>\n England’s Luke Pearce will referee Australia’s World Cup opener against Georgia<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In a selection surprise, Eddie Jones named Ben Donaldson as his fullback ahead of Andrew Kellaway<\/p>\n Jones later declared he wants his team to be one that fans admire and respect.<\/span><\/p>\n ‘This group of young men have the opportunity to do that,’ he said.<\/p>\n ‘For such a young team, the way they’ve conducted themselves during the preparation of the World Cup has been absolutely first class.<\/p>\n ‘We also want to be that team everyone in Australia can’t wait to see play.<\/p>\n ‘It’s not about me, it’s about what our players can do. All I’m trying to do is give them the opportunity to fulfil their dreams.’<\/p>\n In a selection surprise, Jones named Ben Donaldson to start at fullback ahead of Andrew\u00a0Kellaway.<\/p>\n Donaldson, 24, is usually a fly-half, but his goal-kicking prowess will see him in the no.15 jersey for the first time at Test level.\u00a0<\/p>\n Catch every World Cup match ad-free, live and on-demand in 4K UHD on Stan Sport.<\/p>\n