Wallabies' loss to France cause for media outrage

Eddie Jones

SYDNEY - The Wallabies have been savaged by the Australian media and public following their 26-16 loss to France on the weekend, a sixth consecutive defeat for coach Eddie Jones' struggling team.

The Australian newspaper's chief rugby writer, Wayne Smith, said the time for major changes had arrived.

"The Wallabies must be overhauled and if that smacks of change for change's sake then so be it because the inept loss to France in Marseille was by far the worst of the six consecutive defeats they have endured this year," Smith wrote.

"The rugby public is prepared to wear even more defeats if it can see that the Wallabies are moving towards the light, but it has used up all its patience with a tired old combination whose only sense of innovation is to constantly invent new ways of stuffing up."

The Sydney Morning Herald's chief rugby writer, Greg Growden, also called on Jones to make wholesale changes.

"Surely it's time for a major reconstruction because the fact that this team has lost six test matches in a row is unacceptable, and has placed Australian rugby at its lowest point for years," Growden wrote.

"And if Jones, whose ability to get this team up for vital matches is now under serious question, really wants to save his own neck, he has to start chopping quite a lot of others - starting from his captain George Gregan down."

The Wallabies travelled to London to prepare for Saturday's test against England.

- AGENCIES