Jones shoots Knuckles with a Gregan
October 9th 2007 23:30
According to former Wallabies Coach and latter day sinner*, Eddie Jones, The Wallabies lost because the leGGnd wasn't Captain.
Unfortunately, I'm on his side.
Of course, I also first and foremostly believe that we lost because this man wasn't there to direct the action.
from the Herald Sun
If Larkham had played, we'd be 10/10...
Unfortunately, I'm on his side.
Of course, I also first and foremostly believe that we lost because this man wasn't there to direct the action.
from the Herald Sun
FORMER Wallabies coach Eddie Jones yesterday accused John "Knuckles" Connolly of bungling the World Cup campaign. Jones said the decision to sack George Gregan as skipper and hand Stirling Mortlock the captaincy had backfired.
Delivering a brutal assessment of the Wallabies' demise, Jones said claims the scrum had made massive advances since his axing two years ago were shown to lack substance in Marseille on Sunday.
"It has improved, but not that much, and there were repercussions elsewhere," Jones said. "At the scrum and the breakdown you would give England 8/10 and Australia 4/10."
Delivering a brutal assessment of the Wallabies' demise, Jones said claims the scrum had made massive advances since his axing two years ago were shown to lack substance in Marseille on Sunday.
"It has improved, but not that much, and there were repercussions elsewhere," Jones said. "At the scrum and the breakdown you would give England 8/10 and Australia 4/10."
If Larkham had played, we'd be 10/10...
But Jones argued that the other key element in the defeat was the removal of Gregan as on-field general.
"It was a mistake not having George as captain," said Jones, now right-hand man to South African coach Jake White....hence the *latter day sinner...
"The Wallabies definitely lacked leadership in that game (12-10 loss to England). They never got together to work out what to do, which George was always good at.
"He's been criticised as a halfback in recent times. Some of the stuff was right, some of it wrong. But you could never criticise his captaincy."
Jones said his comments were not an attack on Mortlock.
"It's hard to captain from the No. 13 position, and I don't think he was very experienced in that situation at the weekend," he said. "Quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals at a World Cup are life and death.
"It's not your normal Test footy. The intensity exacerbates strengths and weaknesses. I don't think it was Stirling's fault. It was a matter of circumstance.
"I've coached George and I know he would have been cognisant of the fact he wasn't the captain. It showed out that he didn't want to overrule the bloke in charge."
"It was a mistake not having George as captain," said Jones, now right-hand man to South African coach Jake White....hence the *latter day sinner...
"The Wallabies definitely lacked leadership in that game (12-10 loss to England). They never got together to work out what to do, which George was always good at.
"He's been criticised as a halfback in recent times. Some of the stuff was right, some of it wrong. But you could never criticise his captaincy."
Jones said his comments were not an attack on Mortlock.
"It's hard to captain from the No. 13 position, and I don't think he was very experienced in that situation at the weekend," he said. "Quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals at a World Cup are life and death.
"It's not your normal Test footy. The intensity exacerbates strengths and weaknesses. I don't think it was Stirling's fault. It was a matter of circumstance.
"I've coached George and I know he would have been cognisant of the fact he wasn't the captain. It showed out that he didn't want to overrule the bloke in charge."
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Comment by Louie
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
But I would suggest it didn't matter who was in charge of the Titanic . . . .
The loss was symptomic of more than simply not having GG at the helm.
MNG
Comment by Techno
Geeky Blog
Techno
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
Hope you are enjoying the holidays... I for one am SO glad the QLD ones are over, done and dusted. I shudder to think of the Christmas ones coming up!
Love the new voting thing you got going on!
Hope you are a little recovered.
hugs
Ash