Eddie Jones has reportedly enlisted the services of rugby league legend Andrew Johns to boost the Wallabies coaching staff ahead of the 2023 Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies ramped up their preparation the Rugby Championship this week, with an open training session at the Coogee Oval in Sydney.
However, local reporters spotted league legend Johns assisting flyhalves Bernard Foley and Carter Gordon with passing drills. James O’Connor, Ben Donaldson and Jock Campbell joined in with the drills later in the session.
Johns, widely considered to be one of the greatest players in rugby league history, was previously involved in Wallabies training camps under former head coach Dave Rennie. He was also called in by Eddie Jones to help England in 2016.
“That’s the great thing about sport in Australia isn’t it? We’ve got this competitive tension but we also have great cooperation,” Jones told reporters.
“It’s not something we planned but when there’s an opportunity to mix we will. If we think there’s someone from rugby league that can help us, I certainly don’t have any discrimination against the sport.
“…We’ve known Andrew a long time and his ability to teach the nuances of first receiver play is second to none.”
Jones will name a 33-player Wallabies squad on Sunday for upcoming Tests against the Springboks and Argentina.
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