Former Wallabies Morgan Turinui and Stephen Hoiles have revealed the mind games the Australian squad should expect from Eddie Jones as they go into camp on the Gold Coast.
‘I’m assuming it is going to be a whole lot of information that is going to be dumped on these players,’ Hoiles said on Stan Sport ahead of the three-day camp. ‘Some guys will get called in and they will meet Eddie for the first time. They will be told things that they have never heard before, that he is expecting out of them to improve on.
Jones, 63, last coached the Wallabies in 2005 and was infamous for making past players question their worth. With the World Cup this September in France, immediate team chemistry is key and Turinui plus Hoiles are adamant Jones’ masterplan is already well underway.
‘There will be a harsh reality spoken to some players…..that’s what Eddie does. ‘He will bring some players in that think they’re there and they’ve done really well… and he will then tell them they are miles off selection for the World Cup.’ The former hard running centre also believes newly appointed defence coach Brett Hodgson will have a crucial role on the Glitter Strip.
Turinui – who played 20 Tests between 2003 and 2005 – believes Jones will be a ‘teddy bear’ compared to 20 years ago – but will still demand high standards from the likes of young gun Max Jorgensen, rugby league convert Suliasi Vunivalu and veteran Michael Hooper.
And as Wallabies great George Gregan told Daily Mail Australia this week, Jones’ attention to detail is remarkable and following his sacking by England, the veteran mentor will be keen to shock the world later this year with the Wallabies.
Having lost two World Cup finals across the course of his coaching career, lifting the Webb Ellis Cup would be Jones’ crowning achievement. Australia are in Pool C, with group matches against Wales, Fiji, Georgia and Portugal.
