‘The country sinks’: Eddie’s epic NZ-baiting presser

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“You can see the way you’re sitting here. You think, what is this bloke talking about? How can that Australian team take on New Zealand? You know, we’ve been fantastic the first two games. And you have been, mate,” Jones said.

“So you’ve been really fantastic. So you haven’t changed, you’re still fans with keyboards. Right? So nothing’s changed.”

The 63-year-old Jones has coached against the All Blacks 14 times with a return of six wins, seven losses and a draw.

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His record with the Wallabies is 5-6, behind Rod Macqueen’s remarkable 5-2 return while Bob Dwyer won just seven of his 21 Tests against the All Blacks.

“There’s nothing better than Australian rugby taking on New Zealand rugby, you know, because the New Zealanders all think they’re better than us,” Jones said.

“You know, they always have… there’s not too many people outside our group that thinks we can win the game. But there’ll be 85,000 people that might be in for a shock.”

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Notably, Jones knocked New Zealand out of two Rugby World Cups at the semi-final stage – with Australia in 2003 and England in 2019.

“There’s nothing better than winning against New Zealand because you feel the country sinking, right? It’s not just rugby sinks, the country sinks.

“You know, the whole economy goes down. They’re like, the prime minster is there with his fingers crossed, hoping the All Blacks win. Because he knows the economy’s going to drop if they lose. And so we can have that effect.

“And at the same time, then, the Australian kids want to play rugby again. Because at the moment, too many of them want to play AFL.

“I was going past a school the other day, and they were playing AFL and basketball, right? So we want kids to play rugby because it’s the greatest game of all. So we’ve got a bit of a job here to do.

“You know, maybe put the New Zealand prime minister on call that the economy’s going to suffer.

Jones hurls headset in disgust

“And at the same time raise our stakes here.”

Informed by a Kiwi journo that the NZ economy was already “pretty bad”, Jones took another swing.

“Oh, well, we could help a bit more, mate. Might help the economic balance of the world. I’m sure there’s people with more brains than me that work that out.”

WALLABIES (15-1): Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Carter Gordon, Tate McDermott, Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper, Jed Holloway, Will Skelton, Nick Frost, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Dave Porecki, Angus Bell

Reserves: Jordan Uelese, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Richie Arnold, Rob Leota, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Izaia Perese

ALL BLACKS (15-1): Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Telea, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea (c), Dalton Papali’i, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot

Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Sam Whitelock, Luke Jacobson, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

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