{"id":291449,"date":"2023-09-21T00:35:18","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T00:35:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=291449"},"modified":"2023-09-21T00:35:18","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T00:35:18","slug":"wallabies-great-drew-mitchell-hits-eddie-jones-with-x-rated-rant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/rugby-union\/wallabies-great-drew-mitchell-hits-eddie-jones-with-x-rated-rant\/","title":{"rendered":"Wallabies great Drew Mitchell hits Eddie Jones with X-rated rant"},"content":{"rendered":"
Former Test winger Drew Mitchell has demanded Eddie Jones explain some of his selection decisions, blaming the coach for putting the Wallabies in danger of missing the quarter-finals for the first time in World Cup history.<\/p>\n
Mitchell was upset after the Wallabies’ shock loss to\u00a0Fiji, with the team now heading to a do-or-die pool clash with unbeaten Wales this Sunday (Monday AEST) in Lyon to remain a chance of making the play-offs.<\/p>\n
Speaking on a podcast which also features former Wallabies Adam Ashley-Cooper and Matt Giteau, 71-Test Mitchell blasted Jones in a foul-mouthed rant.<\/p>\n
‘Let’s not take away from the fact that Fiji played really well, but let’s also not take away from the fact that we f**king shouldn’t have lost to Fiji,’ Mitchell told The Good, The Bad and the Rugby Australia podcast.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He questioned Jones’s move to pursue a youth policy and leave out long-time skipper Michael Hooper and veteran playmaker Quade Cooper, selecting only one five-eighth in the squad in 22-year-old Carter Gordon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stan Sport<\/span><\/span> is the only play to watch all the action from the Rugby World Cup, with every match streaming ad-free, live and on demand in 4K UHD.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Drew Mitchell demanded coach Eddie Jones explain some of his decisions after the ex-Wallaby was infuriated by the team’s display against Fiji<\/p>\n Mitchell, who has played in three World Cups, said Jones needed to come clean to fans after their first defeat by Fiji in 69 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘You’ve (Jones) made some glaring decisions around Quade (Cooper), around Michael Hooper, six captains in seven weeks, like, f****** explain some of these decisions to us,’ Mitchell said.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘Because as fans we’re all sitting here scratching our heads, and a lot of the time we can sit there and defend Eddie or the Wallabies because we can understand logic in some of these decisions, but there’s none of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘Tell us as fans, why have you not picked these guys? Because now we’re seeing the result of you not picking some of these guys.’\u00a0<\/p>\n The 39-year-old, who last played for Australia in 2016, didn’t accept Jones taking responsibility for the 22-15 loss – their first to Fiji in tournament history – saying it was an ’empty line’ in a press conference with no real consequences.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘Eddie sits there and goes, “Yeah, it’s my fault. I take full responsibility.” What the f**k does that mean, though? Like, he doesn’t get dropped this week,’ Mitchell said.<\/p>\n ‘What does that equate to? Nothing.’\u00a0<\/p>\n Mitchell’s spray caught Fiji in the crossfire, with their coach Simon Raiwalui responding through social media saying his remarks regarding his team were ‘condescending’.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fiji are ranked the world’s No.8 team, one ahead of Australia, and they also beat heavyweights England in their World Cup warm-up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitchell claimed\u00a0there was a lack of accountability in the Wallabies coach’s decisions<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Aussies are now heading into a do-or-die pool clash with unbeaten Wales this Sunday<\/p>\n A former Wallabies assistant coach, Raiwalui questioned why Mitchell believed the Wallabies shouldn’t have lost to Fiji.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘It starts to get a little condescending\u2026do our young men deserve that?’ Raiwalui wrote on social media platform X.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mitchell replied to Raiwalui that he didn’t mean for his comments to be interpreted that way.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘In no way did I mean for that to come across as condescending whatsoever. I love what you and the team are doing and thoroughly deserved to win,’ Mitchell said.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘It was more about your point in the press conference in the resources both unions have at their disposal.’\u00a0<\/p>\n Mitchell later apologised for his swearing and said he was tired and a ‘tad emotional’.<\/p>\n