Jones to stick with strongest squad - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Jones to stick with strongest squad

By Melissa Woods 02/10/2003 07:12:34 PM Comments (0)

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says he plans to field Australia's strongest possible line-up during every World Cup match, giving Friday's final internal team trial even greater significance.

The Wallabies were expected to rotate some players during pool games against rugby minnows Namibia and Romania.

But Jones said it was more important for the side to gain momentum and confidence ahead of the playoff games.

That means the starting 15 against Argentina in the World Cup opener in Sydney next Friday have the opportunity to nail down their positions throughout the tournament.

"We won't rotate players, what we've got to do is build momentum and that's not to say that everyone won't play a game but it's not to say that everyone will," Jones told AAP.

"We'll definitely pick the best 22 for the first game and then we'll look at bringing people in and out depending on the games that we have.

"We'd like to think that everyone will get a game but certainly, we're not going an A (team) - B (team) type situation."

The Australian squad will have its final simulated match Friday at its Coffs Harbour base, after one last Saturday and another earlier match when they trained in Darwin.

The 30-man squad will split into two, with rivals for key positions pitted against each other during the 40 minute hit-out.

The most contentious positions are fullback, where Mat Rogers is challenging incumbent Chris Latham, and on the wing, where trio Joe Roff, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri are battling for the two jerseys.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

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