Rugby Championship – Eddie Jones announces a new kit for his matches against New Zealand
Ahead of the final Rugby Championship meeting against New Zealand and the Bledisloe Cup meeting, Eddie Jones unveiled a new squad of 34 players on Thursday. Eight changes are noteworthy, including Tom Wright’s usual 15.
after Two defeats in his first days in the Rugby ChampionshipAgainst South Africa (43-12) and Argentina (31-34), Australia is preparing to face defending champions New Zealand on July 29, and then on August 5. For the occasion, coach Eddie Jones unveiled a new group of 34 players.
The Australian national team chief opted to release eight players: prop Matt Gibbon, winger Pete Samu, hookers Zane Nongor and Jordan Olissi, and three quarterbacks Lin Iketao and Isaiah Perez. Also absent from this list are fullback Tom Wright and versatile three-quarters Reese Hodge.
Get together and do better
Arriving in time for the second match, against Argentina, forwards Bonnie Famaucelli and Blake Shoup retained their places in the group. Jones also has a lot of injuries: Waratas players Angus Bell and Lanky Gleeson, Melbourne Rebels second line Matt Phillip and winger Andrew Kellaway, center Samu Kirevi and winger Jordan Petya. Co-captain Michael Hooper, the injured calf who is absent from Argentina, joins the recovery group. It is hoped he will be back for the voyage to Dunedin on the 5th of August.
Eddie Jones said to himself “I’m very disappointed with the results from our first days. We have to pull together and do better in the next matches and playing in Melbourne will allow us to play at our best.” The group gathered on Thursday for a three-day tournament before welcoming the All Blacks to Melbourne on Saturday 29 July.
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