Eddie Jones speaks after Wallabies loss to Fiji for the first time in 69 years

The Canberra Times

Fiji beat the Wallabies 22-15 in the World Cup pool stage.

Transcript

00:00 You've spoken a lot about wanting people to believe in the Wallabies again.

00:04 And there'll be a lot of people who will be very disappointed,

00:06 Wallabies fans who have come in and seen that game.

00:09 What's your message to them after that loss?

00:13 Well, get ready for Wales.

00:17 I don't catch the fans, mate.

00:19 I appreciate all their support.

00:22 We're doing our absolute best and I apologise.

00:24 It's my fault.

00:25 I take full responsibility for it.

00:27 Look, we've gone with a young team.

00:30 I've got no regrets at all.

00:34 We're building a team for the future and we're going to go through some pain.

00:37 And some of the young players are going to go through some pain.

00:39 And that's generally how you have an apprenticeship.

00:43 If that's the wrong decision, then I'll be held accountable for that.

00:47 But I think Australian rugby needs to move on to a younger team.

00:50 And, you know, I'm prepared to experience some pain to go through it,

00:55 but I'm going to leave Australia with a team that's capable of doing really well at a World Cup.

00:58 And that's not to say we can't do that.

01:00 You know, we've had a bit of a setback today.

01:04 But that's all part of being in a World Cup.

01:08 You know, I do remember South Africa lost the game and won the World Cup.

01:13 So funny things have happened.

01:15 Eddie, we saw Will Skelton arrive in a moon boot.

01:18 I mean, how serious is his injury?

01:20 Is he any chance of playing against Wales and the same for Tupou?

01:24 So those will be available for Wales.

01:27 Do you see them taking part in the tournament beyond that?

01:31 Yes.

01:32 Just the number around the last time Australia lost to Fiji was 1954.

01:36 Did you ever think that would happen?

01:38 And has that hurt personally?

01:42 Well, it definitely hurts, mate.

01:43 It hurts personally, yeah, 100%.

01:48 And as I said, I'm 100% responsible for it.

01:51 You know, I've gone down the line of picking a young team.

01:54 I want this young team to be a good team.

01:56 At the moment we had a bad day today, which can happen.

01:59 And we've got to be better next week.

02:01 So that's my responsibility.

02:05 Look, I'm a bit used to it, mate.

02:06 And after that I probably deserve more, mate.

02:09 You know, they should be throwing – will they throw here baguettes, croissants at me?

02:15 It's not good enough.

02:16 So I deserve whatever I get, mate.

02:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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