Eddie Jones presided over the best period of the short history of the Brumbies, and the worst periods of the long histories of both the Wallabies and then the Reds. An unexpected World Cup final appearance provided brief respite amid this downward spiral that ended yesterday with Jones’ resignation from his Queensland position.
At the Brumbies, it could be argued that Jones was the beneficiary of Rod MacQueen’s hard work. Where MacQueen had analysed the game as it was then played and from his study developed a style that would prosper, Jones only analysed MacQueen’s style. During his tenure as Wallaby coach, Jones never changed his game plan.
Rugby however has ceased to sit still for even a season or two since the game turned professional. New and old styles of play have come and gone as the effects of professionalism are played out.
Jones held too tightly to his high-retention brand of football while other countries caught up and blew passed the Wallabies. International defences became able to withstand the repetitive onslaught of wave after wave of phase play. Ultimately it was the return of the leviathans that scuttled his more versatile forwards and starved his star-studded backline.
Sacked as Wallaby coach, Jones again showed his inability to venture outside of MacQueen’s game plan with the Queensland Reds. Reacting to heavy media criticism about his neglect of the front row, Jones implemented a simplistic, one-dimensional forward based game that petered out quickly.
Despite the graceful tribute paid to him by QRU chairman, Peter Lewis, Jones left the Reds with little more than the passing of time could achieve. The Queensland players are a little older and a little wiser. Hopefully the same can be said of the ARU administration when it comes time to choosing John Connolly’s successor.
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