TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2019 SPORT 07 At the WTA Final, you play for each game, set, match. You HANDBALL CRICKET can’t predict anything, that’s Wimbledon champion AHF Men’s Asian qualification South Africa vs India what I like about it. I only hope Petra Kvitova event for Tokyo Olympics ICC World Test Championship some fans will show up. ACTION Day 6 at Al Duhail Indoor Arena 3rd Test, Day 4 in Ranchi TODAY’S Cheika quits New Zealand are ‘beatable’, as Wallabies insists England coach Jones look to move on REUTERS AFP MELBOURNE OITA Eddie Jones believes England have With the meek quarter-final exit from the the weapons to upset New Zealand Rugby World Cup marking the definitive in this weekend’s World Cup semi- derailment of Michael Cheika’s roller-coaster final -- as long as his players are tenure as Australia coach, the Wallabies are not dazzled by the All Blacks’ moving quickly to secure a replacement. stardust. Rugby Australia (RA) has drawn up a list England are daring to dream of targets and hopes to name Cheika’s suc- in Japan after smashing Australia cessor by Christmas, CEO Raelene Castle told 40-16 in Oita, but Jones knows his reporters in Japan. side have a mountain to climb in Referee Jaco Peyper posing for a picture The proactive stance comes as the gov- the shape of treble-chasing New with Welsh supporters with a raised elbow, erning body is mindful of the competition to Zealand when the heavyweights mimicking an incident that led to Vahaamahina’s secure the world’s top rugby brains over the clash in Yokohama. send-off.PICTURE: TWITTER / FABIEN HEUZÉ next four-year cycle before the 2023 World “You always want to play the Cup in France. best and they are the best -- no one New Zealand have yet to name a successor can dispute that,” said the Picture with Welsh for Steve Hansen, who will step down after Australian. Japan, while England may also be looking for “You want to be the best in the fans puts referee a replacement for Eddie Jones, who has said world, you have to beat the best,” he may not see out the two years left on his added Jones. in hot water contract. “New Zealand are a great team Australian media have installed as with a great coach and a great REUTERS favourite Glasgow Warriors coach Dave captain, but like any team they are Rennie, a New Zealander who took the beatable. South African referee Jaco Peyper has landed Waikato Chiefs to back-to-back titles in Super “But I think what happens is himself in hot water with French rugby fans Rugby and was once seen as a candidate to you become part of the show,” he by appearing to pose for a picture with a group take on the coveted All Blacks job. warned, pointing to the aura of of Welsh supporters with a raised elbow, Yet Jones, who coached the Wallabies to invincibility built up by the All mimicking a key incident in the close-fought the 2003 World Cup final before being fired Blacks, who destroyed Ireland match. after a dreadful 2005 season, also has his 46-14 in the quarter-finals and are Wales beat France 20-19 in a dramatic backers among local pundits. unbeaten in a World Cup match rugby World Cup quarter-final on Sunday and “I understand (Jones) is contracted through since 2007. Peyper, who officiated the game, sent off to 2021 with England,” said Castle, when asked “You watch -- I thought that France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina for if the Australian was a potential target. happened (with) Ireland. They elbowing Aaron Wainwright in the face when “As I said, we’ve done the work on dif- really only got stuck in when the France were leading 19-10. ferent names, different understandings. We’ve game was lost. Against any of the A picture being circulated on social media got a list of people and we know who we will best teams, you have to go hard England’s head coach Eddie appears to show Peyper in the middle of a be talking to.” from the start. That’s going to be Jones kicks the ball next to group of Welsh fans, raising his elbow to seem- RA has promised a thorough review of important for us.” captain England’s centre ingly mimic the incident that led to Vahaama- what pundits branded Australia’s worst-ever England were edged 16-15 by Owen Farrell during the hina’s sending off. World Cup campaign culminating in a com- New Zealand at a rain-soaked captain’s run session at the Vahaamahina is scheduled to attend an prehensive defeat by England, and the gov- Twickenham last November in Oita Stadium. independent judicial committee hearing into erning body has plenty to ponder as it sifts their only meeting since Jones took his sending off on Thursday. through the rubble of Japan. charge following the 2015 World Although taking the Wallabies to a sur- Cup debacle under his predecessor, yards on the training pitch, and not prise final at the 2015 World Cup in England, Stuart Lancaster. pure talent, that has England’s All Blacks must be ‘on their Cheika’s stormy premiership produced only But after reaching the semi- current crop standing on the a 50% win rate. finals for the first time in 12 years, shoulders of giants. RA reviewed Cheika’s position last England’s players are on the cusp “You’ve got to have talent to get game’ for England: Retallick December after Australia’s worst season in of greatness, according to Jones. in the front door -- but then you’ve decades but opted to retain him and instead “The reason I took this job is got to have work ethic, you’ve got AFP “The forwards are very mobile, they fire forwards coach Stephen Larkham. because I saw a team that could be to be relentless,” he said. “Work’s TOKYO carry the ball well and have good skill- RA Director of Rugby Scott Johnson will great,” he said. hard, most people don’t want to do sets, and also the backs play an lead the review, though he was on the Wal- “That was the challenge and it.” New Zealand lock Brodie Retallick said expansive game. labies’ selectors panel which drew criticism they are starting to believe it. We Jones, the Australia coach when the All Blacks would have to be “on their “They’re a very good side at the from fans throughout the World Cup. have a challenge this week because England beat the Wallabies in the game” in the World Cup semi-final moment, they’ve got great attacking assets Johnson has said Australia’s next coach we are playing the greatest team 2003 World Cup final, also doubled against England, a side he described as across the park and a mobile tight five will be decided on merit rather than that there has ever been in sport,” down on his remarks about having both physical and skilful. that are scoring tries from 25 metres out. nationality. added the former Japan coach, who little sympathy for opposite Retallick played an hour of the All “There’s lots of variation so we’ll Having seen the running rugby of Cheika’s expects to have wing Jack Nowell number Michael Cheika, who Blacks’ 46-14 quarter-final demolition have to be on our game come the Wallabies dismantled in Japan by more tacti- available this week after a tweaked stepped down after his team’s of Ireland, a result that set up a last-four weekend.” cally astute Wales and England coaches, some hamstring. World Cup exit. clash in Yokohama on Saturday with the While Retallick has racked up six Australian fans will hope Johnson means to “We’ve got to look at it as “If we had lost on Saturday, you English, who saw off Australia 40-16. wins from the seven Tests he has played secure a foreign appointment unburdened by almost a one-off game rather than guys would have been coming at “There’s a big rivalry between against England, the towering lock said any sense of obligation to the country’s tra- try to link it to past me hard,” he shrugged. England and New Zealand,” admitted it was the loss, 38-21 in December 2012, dition of pursuing success with performances.” “Let’s not get too emotional Retallick, who was World Player of the he remembered most. ball-in-hand. Jones, whose starting wingers and silly about this -- I’m not an Year in 2014 and a stalwart of the suc- “Who turns up, up front, and wins Most, however, would not miss running Jonny May and Anthony Watson Australian, I’m an England coach. cessful New Zealand side. that physical battle generally comes out rugby nor condemn the coach that ditches it, combined for three scores against Maybe you have to work that “We know they’re always physical,” on top. I’m guessing it’ll happen again if it meant a deeper run at the next World Cup. Australia, insisted it was the hard out.” he said of Eddie Jones’ team. this weekend.” Lomu’s legacy looms over NZ-England semi AP then barreled straight over the top of deploying Richie Mo’unga and Beauden Zealand. The All Blacks have won 15 of TOKYO England fullback Mike Catt, is part of Barrett in a dual playmaker system that the last 16 tests against England, rugby folklore.