Jones backs France for WC glory
25 Mar 2010
Eddie Jones believes France are favourites for the 2011 World Cup, while he feels the Springboks will struggle this year.
Marc Lievremont’s side completed the Grand Slam last weekend, and have also beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand and the Boks in Toulouse in the last year.
Jones, who coached the Wallabies to within a few minutes of the World Cup in 2003 and was a consultant with the Boks in 2007, backed the French for the title.
‘If I was a betting man, I’d back France [to win the World Cup],’ said Jones. ‘The only thing they’re missing now is two jumping locks. If they are able to find at least one jumping lock, they’ll be a very hard side to beat in New Zealand.
‘It’s been shown they play well there for some reason.’
Jones feels the Boks, Kiwis and Australians will be the other competitive units in 2011, but feels the Boks will not be at their best this year, similarly to 2006.
‘You’d expect New Zealand to do well. I think South Africa will struggle this year but will be strong for the World Cup.’
The Wallabies are clearly improving, but Jones said the tournament may have come at the wrong time for Robbie Deans’s young team.
‘Maybe it’s just going to be a bit too early for them. There’s a number of good young players around, but maybe it’s just one cycle too early for them.’
Jones has been impressed by the Reds’ young halfbacks, Will Genia and Quade Cooper, who should feature in New Zealand next year.
‘The nine and 10 at Queensland are just outstanding,’ said Jones.
‘Genia is a running halfback, he’s also got a beautiful pass and with the quick ruck ball he’s also been terrorising ruck defenders, and Quade’s the best 10 at varying his alignment. It depends on the speed of the ball; he flattens up when it’s quick and he gets a little bit deeper when it’s slow.
‘It’s only six or seven weeks into the competition, but certainly Genia looks like he’s a long-term prospect.
‘It’s their fourth year in the Super 14 now and I think it’s very important to understand that they’re now getting that maturity, starting to play at a high level.’
65 Comments
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25 Mar 2010, 21:20 pm
@Johan Fourie: that’s what they said last time, there is only one team which has been in the last two World Cup finals, and they won’t be exiting at the QF stage, you can put your last randy on that
25 Mar 2010, 21:20 pm
@carol: They did! Thats why I say England should make sure they meet France rather than NZ. If they beat France, they’ll have the Ausies in the semi’s.
25 Mar 2010, 21:21 pm
@Big Hit: Lets hope so! I would prefer to play England than France!
25 Mar 2010, 21:22 pm
@Big Hit: thats because this time they probably wont get to the quarterfinals… getting to the final and losing is just the same as losing in the 1/4s to an incompetenet Eng poofta..
doenst matter how many finals you make, no one remembers the losers..
26 Mar 2010, 00:25 am
@poppa69: how many years since NZ made a final?
26 Mar 2010, 00:38 am
@Big Hit: ummm 15, which is at least double and a half the number of times you guys have beaten us in 100 years of rugby history…
so your point is?
how many times have your juniors lost to us in World finals? last two from memory..
you guys are good at losing aye..
and coming from a country that thought the WC was a SH conspiracy… now you embrace it as some sort of holy grail, yet when it was first touted you guys didnt want any of it? why is that? because by making a final when other teams have been cheated of having a fair opportunity to do so makes you guys think you compete with the big boys?
bwahahaha keep buying our rejects champ, best you get a kiwi coach next, your current one should return his knighthood hes been that ordinary..
tell me, how many times have you guys beaten the ABs in the world cup?
26 Mar 2010, 00:39 am
@Big Hit:
26 Mar 2010, 00:40 am
popps, what are you so angry?
26 Mar 2010, 00:40 am
should be why, not what
26 Mar 2010, 00:45 am
@whatever: Im not angry, just responding to the question…
I just dont think someone should gloat about making world cup finals when you dont win them, whats the point? runner up is simply first loser…
26 Mar 2010, 01:10 am
@poppa69:
Yeah, but making the final is better than not making the final?
Would Conners, Borg or Bekker be as well known or as rich if they went out in the quarters in Wimbledon every year?
26 Mar 2010, 01:26 am
@poppa69: but we DID win one not so long ago (certainly inside the 15 years since have NZ have even got to one
). 30 more years pops!
26 Mar 2010, 06:25 am
@rugbywriter:
You are laughable.
You say you respect other peoples opinion but you then call that person “an arse”.
That is not respecting an opinion!!
The boks will struggle and the only team who have showed they are not struggling is the Stormers….ie they have a excellent defensive record with an attractive attacking record.
The bulls ahve a great attacking record but they have the converse in defense. Rugby is the whole picture when you look at consistency. The Bulls have had plenty get out of jails…its going to bite them. Teams are seriously working out their defenses I unfortunately not seeing this in the bulls.
Come national duty you will see tries dry up…not to the extent of last year.
26 Mar 2010, 11:39 am
Jones is the top brain in world rugby – France will definitely spoil the party for someone (could well be NZ again) – but can they maintain the momentum with consistency? History says ‘No’ – but then you can never tell with them. We know they are perverse and enigmatic, appalling one day the best on the planet the next … but it would appeal to their ‘sense of artistry’ to win it in NZ; by no means impossible but not something you would bet on.
26 Mar 2010, 18:41 pm
@wallabie.:
Wallabie, you are a ******. The Bulls are miles ahead with a game in hand and you say they are struggling? They are the best team in the Super14 by a long way. Don’t be bitter just because there probably won’t be an Australian team in the semis this year
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