Rugby News: England stars express 'disappointment' over Eddie axe, Wallabies weigh up future amid Rennie uncertainty

Senior leaders within the England team have come out in support of sacked coach, Eddie Jones, saying it was “disappointing” the Australian was let go less than a year out from the Rugby World Cup.

Jones, 62, was given his marching orders by the Rugby Football Union one week ago after an underwhelming November, which bookended a disappointing year that netted just five victories from 12 Tests.

While there was talk Jones had lost the dressing room, British and Irish Lions star Anthony Watson and 2019 World Cup member Lewis Ludlam followed the lead of Owen Farrell by expressing their disappointment the coach had been let go.

Owen Farrell, Lewis Ludlam and Anthony Watson have expressed their “disappointment” that Eddie Jones was axed. Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images

Watson described Jones as a “world-class coach and a world-class human”.

“He gets a lot of shit for some of the stuff that he has and hasn’t done,” said Watson, who recently returned for Leicester and scored a magnificent solo try against Ospreys after a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

“He’s the first to call me whenever I have a niggle. He was the first to call me after three months to see how my ACL recovery was progressing, how my achilles was going. Taking time out of running a World Cup programme to send me off to do one-on-one speed coaching. There are very few people who can see the bigger picture like him. I’m disappointed I won’t be able to continue to work with him.

“There aren’t many people who give up their entire lives to rugby like Eddie Jones does. And we saw it first-hand; other guys from the outside might not see that but it’s distressing to see someone give up so much and then get so much heat from outside, when he’s dedicated his life to the game.”

Watson wasn’t the only English regular to come out in defence of Jones, with back-rower Ludlam –  the Northampton captain –  saying he did not believe it was the right decision to axe the veteran coach.

“I don’t necessarily agree that it was the right decision,” Ludlam told The Times’ Ruck podcast.

“But I think it was the nature of the way public pressure is set up now. It was really disappointing so close to a World Cup as well.

“I think we’ve all got a look at ourselves and how we can get improvement out of the team. Eddie’s always given space for the players to drive the team in the direction that they want it to, and they want it to. So for us as players, I think we’ve got to look at ourselves as well.

“We’ve got to look at where we can get improvements in our game, because Eddie is not the sole reason that England rugby has not been going as well as it has. In fact, I’d say the opposite. I think he’s a key pillar in why English rugby has been so good in the last five, four or five years.

“The reality is this group of players who probably haven’t been performing the way we’d like to, and unfortunately, it was Eddie who’s had to take the flak for everyone.”

Jones came under all sorts of scrutiny for running a tight ship, driving high-performance to the point of breaking point and churning through coaches.

Yet, Ludlam, who was a surprise pick for the 2019 World Cup, said he thrived in a physically and mentally demanding environment and added that being “uncomfortable” drove standards.

“Culture is an interesting thing in sport, and it’s almost impossible to please everyone and get a culture that fits everyone in the team and some people in that high-pressure environment don’t enjoy it and don’t thrive in it,” he said. “And for some people with Eddie, it allowed themselves to take the pressure off and enjoy that high-pressure environment.

“It’s not going to work for everyone, it is uncomfortable for everyone, but I think uncomfortable is good. I think uncomfortable gets the best out of you, it spurs you on. It is uncompromising, but I think with Eddie, you know exactly what you’re getting, you know exactly what the standard is, there’s no confusion on that, which I think is the beauty of that whole environment.”

Owen Farrell says Eddie Jones is “one of the best coaches” he has played under. Photo: Dan Mullan – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images

Their comments came after Owen Farrell, who was appointed as captain in 2018 by Jones before losing the role for the July series against the Wallabies, said it was “unbelievably disappointing” to see the coach sacked.

“Eddie had been a big part of England Rugby for a long time now and he has been one of the best coaches I have ever had so, for that, I’m massively thankful,” Farrell told the BBC.

“We are disappointed it has finished early and we owe a lot to him. I have been around for a while now and not been around too many changes, both at club and international level. It’s not pleasant to go through.

“I don’t think it has come from the players. There is obviously stuff we all want to get better at from the results but as players you look at yourself and see what you can do.”

Wallabies trio considering future in Australia as RA considers

It is that time of the World Cup cycle, too, when players are considering their futures.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports Harry Wilson, Len Ikitau and Taniela Tupou are considering overseas moves.

Each one of the trio is weighing up their futures for different reasons; Wilson was used sparingly and was left behind from the Spring Tour; Ikitau is looking at RA’s Overseas Selection Policy; and Tupou has long considered a sabbatical overseas but his inconsistent form and agonising Achilles injury has meant the governing body is considering whether a short or long-term contract is the best practice.

Wilson last week told reporters in Brisbane that he was “very frustrated” to have missed selection on the Spring tour, saying “I think I’m good enough to get back in there.”

As for coach Dave Rennie, whose contract is set to expire following the World Cup, the Herald also says RA is considering bring Jones on board as a consultant, “or even – sensationally – to replace Rennie six months out from the tournament in France.”

Dave Rennie’s future remains up for discussion. Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Beale’s story to be aired

Kurtley Beale is one of Australian rugby’s most vexed players. Some punters love him, others wouldn’t have him allowed to go near Rennie’s team.

The facts however show he has played 95 Tests and gone to three World Cups and was nominated for World Rugby player of the year. He is the most capped Indigenous player in Australian rugby.

On Thursday, Beale’s journey through Australian rugby will be shown on Stan.