Eddie wants Wallabies to play ‘Aussie rugby’

Eddie Jones has outlined his need for the Wallabies to cease being a “copycat of New Zealand” and return to the instinctive strengths of Australian rugby.

The Wallabies will formally start their second period below Jones once they tackle the Springboks within the Rugby Championship opener at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Having been proven the door by England, Jones was re-appointed as Australia’s head coach after the Wallabies endured a poor 2022 below Dave Rennie. This included, satirically, a house sequence loss to Jones’ England facet and a return of no wins through the November tour.

“Tactically we have to shift, I feel,” Jones informed The Good, The Bad & The Rugby Australia podcast with Wallabies legends Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper.

“We’ve most likely been a copycat of New Zealand for some time, and we have to get again to enjoying Australian rugby.

“Which I feel is a little more modern, off-the-cuff. You take a look at the State of Origin, and a lot of the tries got here from instinctive play from the Queensland gamers.

“And I feel that’s at all times been the facility of Australian rugby. While that you must have some construction, that you must permit the gamers to do this (play instinctively).

“So we’ll be capable of play a giant energy sport, however a quick sport, as nicely.”

Jones is assured that his purpose will likely be achievable because of the distinctive athleticism of the Wallabies’ gamers, lots of whom have switched from rugby league.

“Let you know what they’ve acquired energy, I’ve by no means seen such highly effective athletes,” added Jones.

“Daniela (Tupou), Pone (Fa’amausili, prop) is fairly highly effective for 10 minutes, he’ll get higher… (Samu) Kerevi, (Marika) Koroibete, (Suliasi) Vunivalu – it is a huge, highly effective crew.

“However the huge factor is to work collectively. If you happen to take a look at Australia during the last time period what number of video games they’ve misplaced carefully, that’s usually about how exhausting you combat for one another. It’s very not often a tactical factor.”

Photograph: Chris Hyde/Getty Pictures