Rugby Australia’s lawyers have spent much of the year focussed on the Firing Folau File, but now it’s time they turn their attention to Eddie’s Emancipation.
Eddie Jones should be the man to replace Michael Cheika as the next coach of the Wallabies.
No New Zealanders. No punts on provincial coaches, as successful as they might be. No to Dave Rennie. No to Jamie Joseph. No to Vern Cotter.
Bring Back Eddie.
An Australian. A proven performer with a phenomenal record at Test level.
He coached the Wallabies to the World Cup final against England in 2003 before losing in extra-time. He then got a gig as an assistant coach with South Africa in 2007 when the Springboks won the trophy.
He coached Japan to three pool-round victories in 2015, including the Brighton miracle win over the Boks.
England coach Eddie Jones (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
And he’s just steered England all the way to last weekend’s World Cup final in Yokohama.
That’s a seriously solid record; success at the World Cup as a coach with four Test teams.
The problem is he’s got two more years to run on his contract with the RFU.
Rugby Australia were reportedly told that Eddie’s contract with England is “watertight” through to 2021. But as they say in the classics, contracts are barely worth the paper they are printed on.
There’s always wriggle room. And exit room. Forget Brexit – Wallabies fans want Eddxit.
Stuart Barnes alluded to a story about Jones after England stunned the All Blacks in the semi-final a few weeks ago.
He pointed out that after finishing his stint with Japan in 2015 and signing with South African Super Rugby side the Stormers for 2016, he was asked about potentially coaching England.
His response was something like: “Why would I give up a view of Table Mountain every day to go to England?”
Just a few months later, he was coaching England.
It’s believed the RFU pays him £1 million a year, which equates to about $A1.88m.
Rugby Australia need to start negotiating with the RFU. If Eddie is keen to return to Australia, maybe he can start by explaining to the RFU that he’s taken England as far as he thinks he can. They might share the same view.
RA need to make a prudent investment by getting Jones back. Rugby union in Australia is struggling at many levels and interest levels are waning in several areas.
It’s well known that a winning Wallabies side is the main way to raise the game’s fortunes in Australia. Pride and prestige need to be instilled. Eddie needs to be installed.
It’s the time to get Jones back too, given he turns 60 in January. Offer him four years until the next World Cup in France in 2023.
Perhaps there’s a bit of doubt that Jones would want to take a punt by coaching a side that has lost a large number of top-quality Test players following the just-completed World Cup in Japan.
Samu Kerevi is gone, David Pocock is unlikely to play again, Will Genia, Sekope Kepu, Bernard Foley, Christian Lealiifano, Rory Arnold and Adam Coleman are all out the door.
Could Eddie get the best out of the likes of James O’Connor, Matt Toomua, Jordan Petaia, Jordan Uelese, Isi Naisarani, Izack Rodda, Jack Dempsey and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto? There’s not the same depth of class as the current England squad.
Eddie Jones (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
RA might not feel like they have the big bucks to pay the RFU for Jones’s release, as well as paying his subsequent hefty salary, given that they’ve got the Israel Folau legal case hanging over them.
If they lose that unfair dismissal case, the compensation payout Folau is seeking is around the $10 million mark.
But they need to do everything they can to try to get Eddie Jones back to Australia to coach the Wallabies.
Then we can talk about his support team.
Scott Wisemantel? Matt Taylor? Anyone for Jake White?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
People say he purposefully didn’t practice the scrums. Is that true?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
To be honest I thought our scrum was better than England’s. Didn’t think the referee really rewarded scrum dominance however. Sinckler is selected for his dynamism around the park, but is generally considered a worse scrummager than Cole. Add to that fact that we were playing our worse scrummaging LHP in Sio and our worst scrummaging hooker.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
You’re right, RA getting its act together on this (well done Castle and Johnson - but don’t expect much credit from the mob who likes to criticise everything RA does) has coincided with the best u/20s group in a decade at least. The super rugby coaches have to step up though...
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Behind NZ by a smaller margin at youth level due to the historical talent drain due to a lack of pathways and oppourtunity. That is why the good things done by RA counciding with this exciting young group are so important. The groundwork is laid for future success, as long as we don't stuff it up.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Broke a 7 year run of losses to them when we finally got up this season. Much better than our Bledisloe drought!
How often do you beat them at youth level though?
ShaghaiDoc
Roar Rookie
Why can we beat NZL at youth level but not at test level? Do the players or the coaches not grow up?
ShaghaiDoc
Roar Rookie
Eddie Jones would be a disaster. What has he ever won? He wins some high profile games from time to time but there is no consistency. Jamie Joseph's record with Japan is clearly superior and he hasn't pissed off those that run the game in Japan. Everywhere the Mouth goes he ends up at war with the authorities.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Fox news reporting Eddie wants a crack at coaching NRL :laughing:
sheek
Roar Guru
1eye, A criminal record is still an advantage in some places in Australia, so anyone with vice-captain experience should apply! :laughing:
1eye
Roar Rookie
In the case of Rennie ,if available ,who would be the vice coach?,there is a lot of jostling in NZ for the top job Rennie being one of them, though his record aint so good 51%
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@DA it's called the truth :)
Porker
Guest
Rugby needs strong grass roots development... school level, which feeds state level teams, Australia has none of this... recruiting Tongans, Samoans and from Fiji to compete with NZ won’t give you sustained success, they are doing both... Australia won’t win a Bledisloe or WC until they fix this... and Eddy has no magic wand... you need more than a good coach... the next 5 years will be absolute disaster for us.
piru
Roar Rookie
I had a 1974 XJ12 - always had something wrong with it, but damn it was a beautiful car
White will build the Wallabies into a strong set piece team with solid basic fundamentals, he has the eye to spot the necessary talent. But that is as far as he will get you, you need a different coach to play adventurous rugby “Australian style” Might be a good idea to have two coaches in tandem.
Craig
Guest
This. I'd chase Lancaster before EJ.
Craig
Guest
Rarely disagree with you TWAS but I'd say the Oz scrum was a shade better than England's. Run-on team anyway. England got one great shove on immediately after Marler came on, but they did the same to SA too. From my POV the early issues with scrum collapses were all on Sinckler when kept releasing his bind immediately on engage but missing with the jersey grab a fraction of a second later.
Craig
Guest
Sinckler? Give me Thor any day as a ball-running prop and give me our entire starting front row as better scrummagers, especially for 2023. Itoje over Arnold, (who'll be back for 2023)? Nup. We may not have England's depth nut we don't need to be totally defeatist. The next coach will have some very healthy options. Anyway, I agree EJ won't want to leave England and we can't afford to pay him out of his current contract, let alone afford the his pay packet.
And that was Cheika’s attitude as well, “We will play the Australian way, or we won’t play at all” Rugby has fundamental principles that is basic logic. If you want a different entertainment to watch running rugby, then watch league. Rugby has many more layers, and if you don’t heed them, you run from your 22 to entertain and lose.
Rugby wizard
Guest
EJ is not needed,but we can learn from EJ. Give a young AUS coach the job and allow him to pick whoever he wants as he rebuilds. EJ knew from the beginning Brown and Robshaw wont be starters come RWC 2019 but there importance in the building process was crucial and he slowly worked in the youngsters. A Fardy and Morahan will add good value even be it 1 year or 2 at least we will be strengthened in areas we lacked 1.The backrow 2.Speed on the wings Surround the likes of lucas,Petai,Valetini,Wilsen and the NSW winger with experienced players who no doubt can be consistent could be vital in making the Wallabies a force again.