Reality bites for Wallabies coach Jones after Fiji nightmare at the Rugby World Cup
Australia's head coach Eddie Jones waits for the start of the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Australia and Fiji at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint-Etienne, France, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Aurelien Morissard]
SAINT-ETIENNE, France (AP) — Monday rolled around and Australia coach Eddie Jones joked that he hoped Sunday had just been a mere nightmare. A nightmare in which Fijians kept pickpocketing his Wallabies and souvenired a Rugby World Cup win from them for the first time. Fiji won 22-15 in Saint-Etienne. Jones says “I woke up in the morning hoping the result was different but it was still the same.” Another reality bite was confirmation that captain Will Skelton and tighthead prop Taniela Tupou will also miss their suddenly must-win pool game against Wales on Sunday in Lyon. Hooker Jordan Uelese is also stood down for 12 days because of a head injury after coming off the bench against Fiji.
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CORRECTS COACH NAME Australia's head coach Eddie Jones speaks to his squad prior to the Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Australia and Georgia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Thibault Camus