'Go give yourselves uppercuts' - Australia coach Eddie Jones slams 'negative' media ahead of Rugby World Cup

Australia head coach Eddie Jones has slammed the “negative” rugby media after being questioned about the World Cup omissions of Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper.

The absence of back row Hooper and fly-half Cooper from Jones’ 33-man squad came as a huge surprise, and then came the shock announcement that attack coach Brad Davis was resigning after citing “personal matters”.

"I know what's wrong with Australian rugby and part of you blokes are the problem," Jones told a news conference.

"Thanks for the worst press conference I've ever had in world rugby. Well done - the worst I've ever seen."

Australia have lost all four Tests - including back-to-back defeats to New Zealand - since Jones took charge of the national team for the second time in January.

His selection for the World Cup in France has been criticised for being too inexperienced.

"I can't believe the level of negativity here,” he said at Sydney Airport. “You're so negative about everything.

"We're going off to a World Cup you think we can't win. Tell us we're terrible and we will prove you wrong.

"I can feel this negativity - I've got to wash myself off because it's just sticking to me.

"If you haven't got anything positive to say, don't ask please."

Responding to a question from a journalist about what he sees in his side, Jones responded sarcastically: "Nothing, mate. We're terrible.

"I love this negativity - it's fantastic. I love it, love it - keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going."

As he walked away, Jones added: "Go give yourselves uppercuts."

Hooper, who has been recovering from a calf injury, had initially been named as one of Jones’ co-captains but was then overlooked as he named a youthful side.

“Michael wasn’t selected for the tour,” Jones said. “There is still a question mark over his fitness. That is taken into consideration.”

Leaving out Cooper, who has 80 caps, was another controversial decision having, until recently, been Australia’s first choice five-eighth.

Cooper has reportedly refused to speak to Jones since the squad announcement.

"I tried to ring him and I can't get a hold of him,” said Jones when asked about the reports.

Asked why Cooper wouldn’t take the call, Jones replied: “Because I think he’s very upset, mate. I don’t know why you’re going back to that. We’ve tried to ring him. That’s all we can do.

"I’m disappointed if a player is upset but all I can do is ring them. If they don’t take your phone call, you can’t talk to them.”

Meanwhile, Jones is confident Australia can replace Davis, who has left his role just three weeks before the World Cup starts.

“Family reasons, mate,” said Jones when asked why Davis had left. “I think there’s an opportunity for us and I think we’ll improve our coaching staff. We had a discussion a couple of nights ago.

"There is a potential candidate ready to step up now. I think we’ll improve the coaching staff.”

Australia are in Pool C along with Georgia, Wales, Fiji and Portugal.

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