Jones to sound out Walker
August 19, 2001

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones said on Sunday he plans to see winger Andrew Walker next week to find out if he wants to resume his international rugby union career.

Walker was dumped from the Australian team after going walkabout last Monday when he disappeared to see his wife Leona, who is six months pregnant with the couple's fourth child.

"We need to go over a few issues, to find out how committed he is," Jones said.

Jones, who took over as Wallaby coach from Rod Macqueen after the Lions series win in July, also coached Walker at the Super 12 champions ACT Brumbies.

"I know Andrew quite well," he added.

Chris Latham and replacement Graeme Bond stood in for Walker in the 14-14 drawn Tri nations Test against South Africa on Sunday without ever quite matching his flair.

The Springboks finished moral winners after each side battled itself to a standstill in a ferocious match.

Now the Boks go to New Zealand for a decisive clash with the All Blacks next Sunday.

"I believe we can win," said Boks skipper Bob Skinstad, who was sinbinned along with fly-half Butch James on Saturday.

"We played 25 percent of the (Wallabies) game with only 14 men and they still could not beat us.
"We're improving all the time."

The All Blacks beat South Africa 12-3 in Cape Town last month but the Boks recovered to beat the Wallabies 20-15 in Pretoria.

The series ends with the world champion Australians playing New Zealand at Sydney on Sept 1.

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