A lot has changed since the Wallabies were last in Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne: In October last year, Dave Rennie’s eyes darted from one player to another on the turf at Stade Roger Baudras as the Wallabies sharpened their skills before a tricky five-Test spring tour.

The Wallabies coach and team management had decided it was prudent to come to Saint-Etienne, a small French city about an hour from Lyon, less than a year out from the World Cup to replicate what the side would experience when they returned this month.

The idea was for players to familiarise themselves with surroundings and get used to travelling from the team’s plush hotel in Saint-Galmier to a picturesque rugby pitch in Andrezieux-Boutheon.

They knew Saint-Etienne would effectively be the Wallabies’ main base in France, given the side was set to play two matches in the city against Fiji (September 17) and Portugal (October 1).

This week in Saint-Etienne, however, there is no sign of Rennie.

Sacked in January, Rennie’s replacement, Eddie Jones, is now calling the shots as he trots around the field.

Eddie Jones at Wallabies training in Saint-Etienne. Credit: Getty

Rennie’s assistant coaches Scott Wisemantel, Dan McKellar, Laurie Fisher and Petrus Du Plessis have all departed.

Last year, Will Skelton arrived in Saint-Etienne having not seen his Australian teammates in 12 months. Now, he has been charged with leading the Wallabies at a World Cup.

Max Jorgensen, the youngest player in this Wallabies squad, was still finishing his HSC exams.

Of the 36 players picked in Australia’s spring tour squad last year, 20 are not here this week for the team’s first official World Cup training session.

Locals watch Australia’s training session in Saint-Etienne. Credit: Getty

This time last year, Waratahs winger Mark Nawaqanitawase hadn’t played a Test for his country, Fraser McReight couldn’t convince Rennie that he was a better No.7 than Michael Hooper, while another Hooper – Tom, from the Brumbies – was not even close to being in the Wallabies conversation.

These are the faces that symbolise Jones’ gamble on youth.

Nawaqanitawase, McReight and Tom Hooper have an average of eight Test caps between them, but are central to the Wallabies’ hopes of success in France.

“We had [former Wallaby captain] George Gregan in earlier in the week and he said, ‘you don’t get experience until someone backs you’,” McReight said. “For us, we’ve had the backing from Eddie. It fills me with confidence. The group itself, we play with confidence. We all love each other. I’m super excited to rip in with these lads.”

Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper and Mark Nawaqanitawase face the media in France ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Credit: Getty

Hooper added: “As a young bloke, that’s your end goal; to make a Rugby World Cup. All three of us are pretty young, so to be here and be here in a team with such youth is special.”

With rugby-obsessed locals soaking up Australia’s arrival in town, Jones is in his element, as Men at Work’s Down Under starts blaring through the ground’s speakers.

Rugby World Cups are where Jones has made a name for himself, having led the Wallabies to a home final in 2003. He also played a minor role in South Africa winning the 2007 tournament and orchestrated Japan’s stunning win over South Africa in 2015 before helping England make a run to the 2019 final.

“With a year to go to the Rugby World Cup, this is a big opportunity for players to come in and impress.”

Will Skelton, Eddie Jones and Carter Gordon at a Wallabies press conference on Thursday. Credit: Getty

These were Jones’ words this time last year ... in England camp.

Now he’s in a Wallabies shirt, serving up one-liners.

“There is a great atmosphere around,” Jones said. “We got 3000 at training [today]. The Rebels don’t even get that for a Super Rugby game. Some of the Rebels boys were getting a bit nervous going out to train today.”

When pressed on his philosophy around rotation at this World Cup, Jones said: “Rotations are for spits when you’re roasting a pig in Tonga.”

Wallabies No.10 Carter Gordon ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Credit: Getty

Jones was also quizzed on former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen’s brief stint with the team. “We wanted to give Steve a Wallaby T-shirt but he didn’t take it,” he said.

Sitting to Jones’ left was Carter Gordon; Australia’s 22-year-old five-eighth who hadn’t played a Test until two months ago. Barring a late change of heart, Gordon will be the Wallabies’ go-to man in the most important position on the field against Georgia next Saturday (Sunday 2am AEST).

Gordon’s goal-kicking was off target on Sunday against France. He left 10 points out on the field in Australia’s 41-17 defeat.

He acknowledges he wasn’t at his best and does not blame a lingering groin injury that prevented him from practising as much as he would have liked this year.

Jones has publicly – and privately – backed Gordon and the youngster says it has made a big difference.

“The confidence Eddie has for myself and the team is huge and that really drives me and the team,” Gordon said. “Look, I just can’t wait to get out there and play again.”

Trying to predict how the Wallabies will perform at this year’s World Cup is anyone’s guess.

“We’re in touching distance of playing our first game,” Jones said. “We’re just discovering now how we need to operate as a team, how we want to play, how we can play to our strengths. It’s all just really for us just starting now.”

Watch all the action from Rugby World Cup 2023 on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Every match ad-free, live and on demand in 4K UHD from September 9.

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.