Wallabies get Immortal masterclass as Jones weighs up ‘difficult’ selection calls

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A trip down memory lane for Eddie Jones in Coogee this week had appeared to finish with a willing practice match between two Wallabies’ teams in the sunshine on Friday, watched on by a couple of hundred lucky fans.

But as the crowd dissipated and kids presumably went back to school, a final display on Coogee Oval under the southern post drew a smaller – but no less captivated – audience: an Andrew Johns masterclass.

Johns spent 20 minutes giving Wallabies playmakers Bernard Foley and Carter Gordon an impromptu passing clinic, and by the end, the class size had grown to a dozen, comprising more Wallabies and even a few ex-NRL rivals, in the shape of assistant coaches Brett Hodgson and Berrick Barnes, also involved.

The sight of the eighth Immortal working in his Wallabies camp was a last, wistful memory trip for Jones, who often bemoans the fact he almost convinced Johns to join rugby in 2004. Johns pulled out at the 11th hour, which Jones blames on a dubious Australian Rugby Union board. Jones was sacked later that year.

“We have known Andrew a long time and his ability to teach the nuances of first-receiver play is second to none, and to have him down here, particularly for a such a young guy like Carter [Gordon] is a great learning experience,” Jones said.

Andrew Johns mentors Bernard Foley and Carter Gordon at Coogee Oval on Friday.Credit: Julius Dimitaga/Rugby Australia

In 2016, Johns came to England training at Coogee Oval when Jones was in charge of the old enemy, and the Kangaroos great also worked with Dave Rennie’s Wallabies in 2020, when invited by Scott Wisemantel.

“That’s the great thing about sport in Australia, though, isn’t it? We have this competitive tension but we also have great co-operation,” Jones said.

“[Further involvement] is not really something we have planned. It is just something when there is an opportunity to mix, we will. If we feel there is someone from rugby league who can help us … I certainly don’t have any discrimination against the sport.”

Jones struck a happy figure ahead of naming the first Rugby Championship squad on Sunday.

The Wallabies wore club or juniors jerseys on their final day of training in Sydney.Credit: Julius Dimitaga/Rugby Australia

A coach is at his happiest when he has tough selection choices, and with just 33 players to be named for the first two games of TRC, against South Africa and Argentina, big names will miss out on spots.

The Wallabies have had almost 40 players in camp, and there are still up to a dozen Brumbies yet to join, following a week’s rest. With the Coogee Oval sausage sizzle doing a roaring trade, Wallabies players wore club or junior jerseys and got stuck into each other in a full-contact practice game.

“The players were outstanding all week. Their application was first class,” Jones said.

“It’s always a difficult process. You’ve got probably 45 players competing for 33 spots, so that’s always difficult but that’s the job ahead. We’ll sit down after we’ve finished here and work out who the 33 are.”

Samu Kerevi on the comeback trail from a hamstring injury.Credit: Julius Dimitaga/Rugby Australia

Injuries should make some decision-making straight-forward, with Jones confirming Izack Rodda had re-injured his foot and was out of World Cup contention. Prop Angus Bell (foot) is not expected to be fit for the Springboks clash, while No.8 Langi Gleeson (knee) is also long odds.

Jones said Taniela Tupou was “progressing nicely” and was working to an unspecified plan around his return to the field, but didn’t elaborate.

Mat Philip strained a calf this week, while Samu Kerevi (hamstring), Jordan Petaia (wrist), Trevor Leota (Achilles) and Andrew Kellaway (hamstring) also didn’t train in Sydney, but should on the Gold Coast next week. Quade Cooper missed the Friday session due to a wedding.

The Wallabies forwards contest a lineout.Credit: Julius Dimitaga/Rugby Australia

Will Skelton and Richie Arnold will also join the Wallabies camp next week.

“We have had a pre-season so far. The players who have been out of Super Rugby, we have worked on their fitness, worked on their basic skills and worked on some ideas of how we want to play and now we have two weeks to prepare to play against South Africa, and specifically how we want to play against South Africa,” Jones said.

“To beat South Africa, physically you have to meet the challenge, that’s the first thing you have to do. Then after that, there’s the set-piece contest, there’s the aerial contest and there’s the contest on the ground. It is a huge contest game against them, so we have to be able to win the contest.”

Jones confirmed he expected to name his captain on Sunday but said he also had his preferred run-on team in his head already.

A notorious observer of training effort and body language, Jones admitted the stocks of some players had risen – and others had fallen. Gauging “toughness, fitness and the ability to adapt to a new style of play”, Jones wouldn’t nominate any bolters but there’ll be no surprise to see new faces in the squad.

The work of abrasive Melbourne Rebels flanker Josh Kemeny, for example, was eye-catching all week, and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has been impressive since returning from England recently.

“Some people rise above the water level, and some people drop down. We’ll make an assessment,” Jones said.

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