Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has warned England against employing off-the-ball tactics to unsettle his players in their World Cup final rematch in Brisbane on Saturday.
The verbal jousting between Jones and English counterpart Clive Woodward kicked off on Monday ahead of their much-anticipated confrontation at Lang Park.
The World Cup champions had a disastrous two Test series in New Zealand, losing both times to the All Blacks and having lock Simon Shaw sent off early in last Saturday’s 36-12 Auckland defeat. Second-row partner Danny Grewcock was also cited and suspended until August 31 for stomping.
Jones called for an end to off-the-ball incidents that flared in New Zealand but denied his stance was driven by fears the Wallabies would struggle against England’s physical approach.
”We’d be happy to accommodate them. We don’t have any fears.
We’re up to it, no doubt about it,” Jones told The Daily Telegraph on Monday.
”Obviously, England are going to approach the game in a physical, no-nonsense way. They will target our forwards. But I’d be disappointed if those other tactics were taken on again. We haven’t seen that sort of off-the-ball stuff in recent
times.
”It’s not what you want to see in international rugby. I just hope they come with a positive attitude.”
Jones said he was shocked by the decision to clear Shaw after Australian touch judge Stuart Dickinson had reported the Englishman to the referee for the use of a knee on All Blacks second-rower Keith Robinson.
”You had a referee and a touch judge who are both world-class officials,” said Jones. ”They decided it was serious enough to warrant the guy being sent off.
”Yet the judiciary take a contrary stance. I mean, they ask coaches not to criticise refs. They ask players not criticise refs. And you’ve got a judiciary system that does exactly the opposite.”
Australians have been counting the days for the rematch after losing the World Cup final to a Jonny Wilkinson drop-goal in extra-time 20-17 on November 22 last year.
Woodward has injury problems following the second Test defeat to New Zealand, with Matt Stevens suffering from damaged left knee medial ligaments and fellow prop Trevor Woodman has a right shoulder injury. – Sapa-AFP