SAINT ETIENNE: Wallabies great Drew Mitchell is sorry for his choice of words but not the content of his passionate message that has since gone viral on social media.
A fired up Mitchell took aim at Eddie Jones on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, claiming there was a lack of accountability in the Wallabies coach's decisions and press conference explanation following the historic Rugby World Cup loss to Fiji.
Mitchell, Australia's leading World Cup try scorer who made his Test debut under Jones in 2005, told Wide World of Sports that he should have articulated himself better after unleashing some 'F bombs' on the podcast he co-hosts with Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
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https://twitter.com/drew_mitchell/status/1704395169536368830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
"I'm the first to admit I chose my words poorly and it didn't allow me to articulate myself in a way that I would have preferred," Mitchell said from Lyon, where the Wallabies will meet Wales on Monday (AEST).
"I can't sit through watching that clip again, I was obviously speaking on emotion and probably shot from the hip too much. I guess on this occasion I've joined the Twitter mob. But we're passionate supporters and I'm a big fan first and foremost.
"The sentiment behind it was that we've got a young team, there's Carter Gordon who's been doing well but he could do with some experience around him, a Quade Cooper, Bernard Foley or Michael Hooper."
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Mitchell scored 14 tries across the 2007, 2011 and 2015 World Cups, a tally behind only the legendary Jonah Lomu and Bryan Habana.
He said the tournament presented unique pressures for all players, but particularly youngsters and felt sympathy for them.
"The pressure of the World Cup environment is 24/7," Mitchell said.
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"You need that experience to help alleviate any unnecessary anxieties and help calm the situations off the field. It's just different to any other professional rugby tournament or environment.
"So that's why I questioned why some of those players aren't there."
Mitchell's opinion is hardly in the minority with most pundits and fans shocked by Jones' radical World Cup selections.
"History certainly suggests and lends itself towards experienced teams doing really well," Mitchell said.
"Has Eddie identified that this one might be out of reach and picked a squad for Lions in 2025 and the World Cup in 2027?
"But what we were hearing when he first arrived was that it was going to be a smash and grab. Do everything he can for this World Cup and then afterwards there's plenty of time to blood players.
"These young blokes are talented and in a difficult position because it's high pressure. I just think the ambiguity around some of the decisions, like Michael Hooper (being left out), leaves us all to have our own theories.
"That's when the mob gets louder and unfortunately I allowed myself to join the mob."
Mitchell added that he was gutted for injured Wallabies whiz-kid Max Jorgensen, who has been ruled out of the tournament before playing a game.
Jones is now pondering his options before naming a replacement and Mitchell urged him to consider an SOS to Cooper or Foley.
"I caught up with Bernard Foley down in Nice through the week and he's still finding training fields and making sure he's fit and ready to go if an opportunity presents itself."
Mitchell also wanted to clear the air with fans upset with his podcast comment that we "f—ing shouldn't have lost to Fiji".
Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui was not impressed with that view but Mitchell said the pair had since exchanged messages.
"I really like and respect Simon from his time at the Wallabies and what he's doing in Fiji as well," Mitchell said.
"The point I was trying to make is that we shouldn't be losing to Fiji given the difference in resources, the luxuries we have. I hope I'm not seen to be disrespecting Fiji because I love watching them play and I loved playing with Josua Tuisova. That's the last thing I want to be misconstrued."
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