Wallabies coach Eddie Jones is confident they can enter September’s World Cup with confidence - even if their winless form continues.
Jones’ Wallabies career has started less than ideal with two tough losses to South Africa and Argentina.
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They face a tougher task on the horizon as they take on the All Blacks in a two-Test Bledisloe series, followed by a warm-up match against favourites France.
With the potential of heading into the hallmark event 0-5, Jones was ‘100%’ adamant they can enter with confidence.
“These are important games, we have the Bledisloe Cup which we haven’t won in 22 years but what you do at the World Cup compared to what you do before is two completely different things,” he told reporters.
“I was involved with South Africa in 2007 and we won one of our Tri-Nations games. Japan in 2015 we won one of five warm-up games. It’s how you use the games and you have to be strategic about using the games to get yourself right, particularly coming in as a new coach. Every game is a learning experience for me.
“Certainly we’d like two wins but that’s not the case but that doesn’t mean we aren’t learning from it.”
The Wallabies coach recognised the importance of the side building mental toughness after yet another tight loss.
The defeat to Argentina was their fifth defeat since their heartbreaking Bledisloe loss last year in Melbourne.
“We need to develop it,” he said.
“Like anything, you can develop good habits very quickly and you can develop bad habits very quickly.”
Jones spoke at the launch of the Lions series, with the first Test exactly two years away on July 19 2025 at Suncorp Stadium.
“I think the Lions tour in itself is such a great event
“It’s a real drama. You get the 30-40k travelling down from the Northern Hemisphere and they set out on this Rugby party across Australia.
“It’s really something where people who don’t follow Rugby get involved because there’s the whole story to follow through the warm-ups to the Test matches and they’re always tights lose affairs.
“It’s a great opportunity for Rugby to encourage new supporters.
