Gatland leaves pin in grenade but tells Jones 'I expect Wales to win'
The dust had still to settle on Eddie Jones’ Friday flare-up when Warren Gatland stepped into the home of French tennis and returned serve.
“I expect us to win on Sunday,” the Wales coach said calmly without waiting to be asked. “Do I feel for Eddie? No.”
An hour or so before, 250 miles south in Lyon, Jones had held court with the media and let off a firework or two in a fractious defence of his team and himself.
Gatland turned up at Roland Garros admitting the pair had enjoyed some feisty exchanges over the years.
But when given the opportunity to add to the Australian’s discomfort with one of his trademark grenades, he chose to leave the pin alone.
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“They were talking about smash and grab, and doing things that people didn't expect,” said the New Zealander. “It hasn't come to fruition yet.
Gatland and Jones have a history of trading verbal 'grenades' (Getty)“I think he’s been getting enough stick from everyone else, there's no need for me to put the boot into him.
“As coaches, we all come under pressure at times. It's part of the job. In fairness to Eddie, he’s trying to take as much pressure off the players as he can, saying he's responsible for the results and that things aren't good enough. I understand where he’s at.”
Gatland has reverted to the side which beat Fiji - the island nation that then put Jones’ Wallabies to the sword - for tomorrow’s showdown.
Jones: "At the end of the World Cup there'll be a review. And given the results we've had then maybe Australian Rugby doesn't want to keep me. That's the reality of the job I live in. I understand that" (Getty Images)He knows it is a must-win for Jones, who has avoided defeat in only one of seven games since returning to Australia from England, and that there is unlikely to be any way back for the Wallabies in this tournament if they lose.
But as for the men in gold wanting the win more than his unbeaten side, well, he was having none of that.
“They're going to be desperate but we're desperate as well,” said Gatland who, last week leapfrogged Jones to become the World Cup's most successful coach in terms of career games won. “Because a loss or no points and the group could potentially come down to points difference.
Gatland: “They're going to be desperate but we're desperate as well” (PA)“That’s the last position we want to be in. I think when you’ve worked so hard and made as many sacrifices as the coaches and players have made in the past four months, that creates its own desperation.
“Why give yourself a get out of jail card when you don't need to do that?”
Gatland could not resist a nibble at the Aussies as he confirmed Jac Morgan would reclaim the captaincy, even though it means Dewi Lake, who led the side against Portugal, dropping out of the squad.
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Jones: "I know people are upset and I understand that because the results aren't good enough, but sometimes there is some pain before you get some success" (Getty Images)“Sometimes, teams that are more desperate tend to, when that pressure comes on, go a little wayward or that pressure can get to them,” he said.
“We’re desperate for the right reasons. We're desperate to do well for this team, but also for Wales as a country and to show we're making progress as a team going forward."
* Antoine Dupont, France's stricken captain, had surgery on a fractured cheekbone in Toulouse late last night. The French Rugby Federation say the scrum-half, who had a plate fitted in his face, will return to the squad "in a few days".
Wales: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; G Thomas, Elias, Francis, Rowlands, Beard, Wainwright, Morgan (capt), Faletau.
Replacements: Dee, Domachowski, H Thomas, D Jenkins, Basham, T Williams, Anscombe, Dyer.
Australia: Kellaway; Nawaqanitawase, Petaia, Kerevi, Koroibete; Donaldson, McDermott; Bell, Porecki (capt), Slipper, Frost, Arnold, Leota, T Hooper, Valetini.
Replacements: Faessler, Schoupp, Fa'amausili, Philip, McReight, White, Gordon, Vunivalu.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
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