After the Wallabies\u2019 22-15 defeat in Saint-Etienne, which put the team\u2019s hopes making the quarter-finals in jeopardy, Mitchell could not hold back his frustration.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s leading World Cup tryscorer later apologised on social media for swearing and reiterated his support for the Wallabies and belief they turn things around after a major slip-up against Fiji.<\/p>\n
However, the 71-Test stalwart took aim at Jones following comments he made after the Test around taking responsibility for Australia\u2019s first defeat to Fiji since 1954.<\/p>\n
In a wide-ranging chat on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby: Australia<\/em> podcast with former teammates Adam Ashley-Cooper and Matt Giteau, Mitchell criticised Jones for leaving Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper out of his initial squad.<\/p>\n \u201cEddie sits there and goes, \u2018yeah, it\u2019s my fault. I take full responsibility\u2019,\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cWhat the f— does that mean though? He doesn\u2019t get dropped this week … it\u2019s just an empty f—ing line in a press conference. What does that equate to? Nothing.<\/p>\n Eddie Jones is under pressure this week ahead of Australia\u2019s Test against Wales. <\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve made some glaring decisions around Quade [Cooper], around Michael Hooper. Captaincy; there\u2019s [been] six captains in seven weeks. Explain some of these decisions to us. Because, as fans, we\u2019re all sitting here scratching our heads.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of the time we can sit there and defend Eddie or the Wallabies because we can understand logic in some of these decisions but there\u2019s none of it. He\u2019s sat there and not actually given any explanation as to why Quade\u2019s not there, why is Michael Hooper not there. He said, \u2018Oh, because Michael Hooper\u2019s injured.\u2019 Well, you\u2019ve taken Pone Fa\u2019amausili. You\u2019ve taken Max Jorgensen and these other guys that are injured. So that\u2019s a redundant point.<\/p>\n \u201cCome out and actually tell us as fans … because now, we\u2019re seeing the result of you not picking some of these guys.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s not take away from the fact that Fiji played really well. But let\u2019s also not take away from the fact we f—ing shouldn\u2019t have lost to Fiji.\u201d<\/p>\n We\u2019ve had six captains in seven games. We\u2019ve had a multitude of changes. This is beyond just Fiji. It\u2019s time to probably wake up a bit.<\/p>\n Jones snubbed Cooper and Bernard Foley from Australia\u2019s World Cup squad, instead picking Carter Gordon as the side\u2019s only specialist No.10, with Ben Donaldson a back-up option if needed.<\/p>\n Gordon had a mediocre game against Fiji and was substituted with 30 minutes left in the Test.<\/p>\n \u201cWas taking Carter Gordon off in the 50th minute almost a tip of the hat that Eddie got it wrong?\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cHe picked one [No.] 10 in the whole World Cup squad. If we have a Quade Cooper or a Bernard Foley somewhere there then maybe there is enough experience on that field to change things a little bit on the run. I think it was almost an admission at the 50-minute mark that, \u2018oh f—, I\u2019ve got this wrong here\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s not take away from Fiji first and foremost. I thought Fiji were amazing. I think at the breakdown they absolutely smoked us. This has been a bit of a long time coming. You talk about leadership in an organisation. We\u2019ve had six captains in seven games. We\u2019ve had a multitude of changes at CEO level, president level, coaching level. This is beyond just what happened [on Sunday]. We got bitten in the arse. It\u2019s time to probably wake up a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Drew Mitchell remains Australia\u2019s all-time leading Rugby World Cup tryscorer.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Iain McGregor<\/cite><\/p>\n Mitchell is also unhappy about the number of players going down injured at Wallabies training. Last week, two of Australia\u2019s best players in Will Skelton (calf) and Taniela Tupou (hamstring) couldn\u2019t play against Fiji.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Max Jorgensen (ankle) was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament after coming down awkwardly while catching a high ball.<\/p>\n Jones deflected a question last week about the concerning number of serious injuries.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom all reports and also from the evidence of two players having soft tissue injuries, he\u2019s just overtrained them through the week,\u201d Mitchell said. \u201cHow can you have a hamstring and a calf leading into the biggest game in our World Cup? There\u2019s definitely an element of overtraining for sure if you\u2019re getting soft tissue injuries. I think that\u2019s an indication he was feeling the pressure and overworked the guys and as a result two of our best players \u2013 bigger players \u2013 probably got through too much workload that they probably couldn\u2019t get through. It just shouldn\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Mitchell conceded on X, formerly known as Twitter, that his language could have been better. \u201cPerhaps I should\u2019ve had some more sleep,\u201d Mitchell wrote. \u201cApologies for my swearing. A tad emotional. Just want to see the boys do well. All that being said, I still believe in our men this weekend against Wales.\u201d<\/p>\n Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui responded to Mitchell on social media on Wednesday, saying the general commentary around his side was a \u201clittle condescending\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s not take away from the fact Fiji played really well,\u201d Raiwalui said. \u201cIt starts to get a little condescending \u2026 do our young men deserve that?\u201d<\/p>\n Mitchell replied: \u201cIn no way did I mean for that to come across as condescending whatsoever. I love what you and the team are doing and thoroughly deserved to win. It was more about your point in the press conference in the resources both unions have at their disposal.\u201d<\/p>\n Raiwalui added: \u201cWas directed more towards the general discourse, our boys take their licks in defeat with humility \u2026 but they also deserve their flowers when earned. Love what you guys are doing. Unique, insightful and unfiltered \u2026 apologies, just a little too overprotective of this group.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch all the action from <\/b>Rugby World Cup 2023<\/b> on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Every match streaming ad-free, live and in 4K UHD with replays, mini matches and highlights available on demand.<\/b><\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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