Notebook

Eales says losing will change England's lineup

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Posted: Wednesday October 27, 1999 03:54 PM

Eales: "You have to take it on the chin, learn the lessons and plan for the next World Cup." AP

LONDON (AP) -- England's rugby players might have to take some advice from a guy who knows about the fallout of a World Cup quarterfinal defeat.

Wallaby skipper John Eales has warned his English counterparts to expect some wholesale changes after England crashed out of the tournament Sunday in a 44-21 loss to South Africa.

Eales knows the routine -- half his Australian teammates at the 1995 World Cup didn't make it back in '99.

Australia's defense of its 1991 title ended when it was eliminated by England in the quarterfinals in '95 after Rob Andrew slotted a late drop goal to break a 22-22 deadlock.

England subsequently lost its semifinal to New Zealand but the Wallabies returned to Australia to face the music.

"You have to expect that changes have to be made if you haven't been successful," said Eales. "You have to take it on the chin, learn the lessons and plan for the next World Cup."

"The line between winning and losing is very fine at this level but we have had to reassess and make some changes over the last four years."

But the giant lock reassured the England players, saying they can take comfort in numbers.

"England has more rugby players than any other country and should be capable of bouncing back fairly quickly," he said.

League of his own

Rugby league scouts continue to hound him but Jonah Lomu still isn't budging on his vow of silence over his future until New Zealand's World Cup campaign is complete.

The giant winger was voted the player of the tournament at the last world cup and is back in the running again.

He's already notched six tries in four games to add to his 1995 tally of seven and has become the leading try scorer in World Cup history with a total of 13 touchdowns.

British-based Leeds Rhinos is heading league's northern hemisphere chase for Lomu's signature, while the Auckland Warriors want him to switch codes but stay in New Zealand.

Warriors official Trevor McKewen was quoted in the Australian press saying Lomu would be best off signing with Auckland and playing in Australia's National Rugby League competition.

"With the open interchange between the two codes, he could play two years for us, then go back [to the All Blacks] in time for the next World Cup," said McKewen.

"We know he's interested in league and his manager has said that Jonah told him he would play for the Warriors if he does play league in the southern hemisphere."

That feeling

South Africa captain Joost Van der Westhuizen says it's taken a while, but the Springboks have suddenly regained that winning feeling.

The scrumhalf said the 'Boks were lacking motivation during the group phase in Scotland but hit back with a vengeance in last Sunday's 44-21 quarterfinal win over England and were now ready to take on Australia in Saturday's semifinal.

"The pride in the Springbok jersey is the ultimate. I can't explain it, the feeling when you pull on that jersey," he said. "And that is what happened to every one of the players in this team the moment he pulled on his jersey in Paris on Sunday."

"There was no World Cup feeling when we were in Scotland but the minute we arrived in Paris, the feeling was there," he added.

"The whole squad could feel the support from home and the mood of the World Cup suddenly was there ... and the pride came back."

Propped up

Prop Sylvain Marconnet has been drafted into the French squad after Christian Califano lost his appeal against a seven-week ban for head butting a Fijian rival in a group game.

First-choice prop Califano, who is banned until December 5, had his appeal rejected by a World Cup disciplinary panel in Cardiff on Tuesday and Marconnet was named to the squad on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old prop, who is officially a replacement for injured backrower Thomas Lievremont, could be rushed into in the French team to take on New Zealand in Sunday's semifinal at Twickenham.

The French squad has ample back row cover despite the absence of Lievremont and selectors opted instead to bolster their front row stocks.

Marconnet, who has eight French caps, was omitted from the original 30-man squad due to concerns over a shoulder injury.

 

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