Australia are still in the World Cup and scrum coach Neal Hatley says Eddie Jones is as “desperate to win” as ever.
The Wallabies would have been eliminated from the World Cup at the pool stage for the first time had Fiji secured a bonus-point win against Georgia in Bordeaux on Saturday.
Fiji won the game 17-12 but the Pacific Islanders’ failure to collect five points means Australia retain slim hopes of making the quarter-finals.
Australia must get a bonus-point win against Portugal in Saint-Etienne on Sunday and hope Fiji do not collect any points against the same opponents next week.
In nine previous World Cups, Australia – who won the tournament in 1991 and 1999 – have never failed to reach the knockout stage.
Former England boss Jones, who has been linked to becoming Japan supremo after the tournament, says he is “100 per cent committed” to his job and Hatley said: “I’m always amazed by the questions about Eddie.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to work with him for a long time. I see no change in the way that this man operates.
“He’s desperate to win, he’s desperate for his players to do well. He’s desperate for his teams to connect and make their country proud.
“I can’t speak highly enough of how he conducts himself and how he drives the coaching staff and then the team and the players and the whole support staff.
“He is constantly demanding the very best you can be, not just for yourself but for the players, because that’s what the players deserve.”
Portugal have acquitted themselves well at this World Cup, holding Georgia to an 18-18 draw after testing Wales in a game they eventually lost 28-8.
Head coach Patrice Lagisquet said: “I think a lot about my team’s mindset and momentum at the moment, especially in terms of what we can potentially achieve, ie third spot in the pool.
“I don’t want us to get too excited. I am afraid that we get our expectations too high and that we come down to earth with a bang.”
