The back row Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper have been dropped, while attack coach Brad Davis has quit.

“I know what’s wrong with Australian rugby, and some of you blokes are part of the problem,” Jones said during a press conference.

“Thank you for the worst press conference I’ve ever had in rugby history.” Excellent work – the worst I’ve ever seen.”

“I can’t believe the level of negativity here,” he stated at Sydney Airport. You’re always complaining about something.

“We’re off to a World Cup that you think we can’t win.” Tell us we’re bad, and we’ll prove you wrong.

“I can feel the negativity, and I need to wash it off because it’s just sticking to me.”

“If you don’t have anything positive to say, don’t ask.”

Australia has lost all four Tests since Jones took over as coach for the second time in January after seven years as England’s head coach.

ADVERTISEMENT

One newspaper compared his pick of the most inexperienced Australia side for a World Cup in professional history to “re-mortgaging your house, selling everything in the shed, and taking all your cash to the casino for a one-off bet on red or black.”

Jones rudely interrupted a journalist’s query on what he sees in his side: “Nothing, dude. We’re dreadful.

“I adore this negativity; it’s brilliant.” I love it, love it – keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going.”

Jones added as he walked away from the news conference, “Go give yourselves uppercuts.”

Cooper was largely anticipated to play at fly-half in the World Cup after returning from a devastating Achilles injury. He has 80 appearances for Australia.

When asked about allegations that Cooper has refused to talk with Jones since he was passed up, Jones stated, “I tried to call him, but I can’t get a hold of him.”

“What do you want me to do if I call them and they don’t answer?”

Jones stated that Davis quit “a couple of nights ago” due to family obligations and that he already had a replacement in mind.

The World Cup runs from September 8 through October 28, with Australia beginning their campaign on September 9 against Georgia.

In Pool C, they will also face Wales, Fiji, and Portugal.