Wallabies World Cup preparation on track despite Slipper injury
Australia is gearing up for its first match in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but a significant absence looms as former captain James Slipper, their most seasoned player, is unlikely to feature.
Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones expressed skepticism about Slipper’s prospects of recovering from an injury in time to participate in the Wallabies’ clash against Georgia at Stade de France on Saturday, September 9.
Slipper is grappling with a tendon issue in his foot, and Jones conveyed the uncertainty surrounding his availability, saying he was “touch and go” for the the clash against Georgia.
“He’s got a tendon problem with his foot. We believe we’ve got that under control and he’ll be back on the paddock after Georgia,” Jones said.
While the team contends with other lingering injuries to players like tight-head prop Pone Fa’amausili, hooker Jordan Uelese, and center Samu Kerevi, Jones maintained that the preparations for the upcoming Georgian match are proceeding as planned.
The Wallabies are priced at $1.03 to defeat rugby minnow Georgia, who are as long as $14 with some online bookmakers. The Aussie team is priced at $13 to win the tournament after several years of below par form.
When asked about Australia’s potential to reach the final in France, Jones, in a more amiable demeanour compared to his tense farewell at the airport in Sydney.
“The only thing we have to worry about is Georgia in 10 days’ time,” he said.
“Are we on track for Georgia? Yes, we are on track for Georgia. Then after we deal with Georgia, we get on track for the next game. That’s all we have to worry about.”
Jones emphasised that despite his team’s 0-5 start during his current tenure as the national coach, the squad is still evolving and discovering its strengths.
“You go in with a perception of how you think the team may be, and then the players’ talents have really shone through and we’re just discovering now how we need to operate as a team, how we want to play and how we can play to our strengths,” he said.
“So for us, it’s all just really starting now. We’ve got a new leadership group led by Will [Skelton], and that’s changing the team as well.
“So for us, the big thing is finding the right way to play to our players’ strengths. The plan was always to free us up from structure. I don’t believe you can copy other teams’ structure.”
In contrast to world champions South Africa’s strategy of having a 7-1 split between forwards and backs on their replacements’ bench, the Wallabies won’t be following suit in their upcoming match against New Zealand.
“Next step’s eight-zero, mate. Tradition says five-three – that doesn’t mean it’s right. Is 7-1 right or is 8-0 right? If you’re going to play a heavily dominant forward game, why wouldn’t you have all forward players on your bench?,” he said.
The Australians are in Pool C for the Rugby World Cup, with Wales, Fiji, Portugal and Georgia vying to finish top two in the group and advance to the quarter finals.
