In the two weeks since Rugby Australia made the shock announcement of Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach until the 2027 World Cup on home soil, has the move worked so far?
From an exposure perspective it’s a resounding yes.
The media have been all over this move and has placed rugby on the back pages for the first time in a while, all before they start the season, so that is a massive win.
To use some boxing analogies, Eddie is jabbing, without any knockout punches. He has stated the he is a huge fan of rugby league and wants to get supporters from the 13-man code to get behind the Wallabies and their relevant Super Rugby franchises.
He has also encouraged the AFL mad states to do the same – not leave their current code, but to embrace another. It’s a smart move and one which created a Sydney Swans following in the 1980s and ’90s.
This has been the Aussie way for years, but Rugby Australia lost its way with backing the glory of the past and wasting money.
Eddie understands that can’t and won’t happen and wants to grab extra heads from each province. He will engage and he will promote. But can the players do the same?
The other key takeaway is that all Super Rugby players are on notice and engaged all of a sudden.
Dave Rennie built some great depth with limited resources and instilled belief in lesser-known players.
There are a range of players that are fringe but have ability. Plenty of Force and Rebels talent are perhaps not in the spotlight due to their lower placings on the ladder.
Eddie’s immediate exposure to the media suggests more eyeballs on Super Rugby. If the teams can perform and Eddie creates a platform for media exposure, it is going to create interest.
On the flip side, if the Super Rugby teams do not perform, it could be a car wreck.
The Waratahs and Brumbies are being stalked up, the Reds are the dominant Aussie team but cannot perform against our brothers across the ditch, while the Rebels and Force last year were more up and down than a yo-yo.
Then you have a reduced Rugby Championship. What if the Wallabies don’t win a match? Given Rugby Australia have given Jones a five-year term, this could be redressed as rebuilding process.
In a more positive scenario, the Wallabies could win a few matches, perhaps even the entire Rugby Championship, dare I suggest even the Bledisloe Cup.
This move from Rugby Australia has definitely garnered interest from the sporting journalists and expectations have improved. Eddie is a media machine and all codes have taken notice.
If Eddie Jones can get results, the train is moving, but if the Super Rugby teams falter, perhaps the train will at Central Station for six months.
My personal opinion is that Eddie deserves a chance. Let’s see where this ride ends.
Malo
Guest
One thing for sure Eddie will spend like Clive Palmer at elections. RA better bring in the crowds and grassroots otherwise rugby will have a huge black hole
thebleedingobvious
Roar Rookie
Eddie is more of a Graham Lowe like, uber positive talking, man motivator. He’ll have an effect but WB’s won’t have enough game time to establish into a dominant force. All the injuries cost the team’s development as well as Rennie’s head. The best WB 15 still won’t have the developed quality and cohesion to beat better teams in really big WC games, they have some excellent players but won’t be a superior team. So, they’ll rely on upsets, might get one but won’t win a WC that way. Eddie had more talent to work with in England. However, Eddie’s end with England, is a prime example of a team stopping listening. Another 4 years of Ian Foster for AB’s would go nowhere. Win or not, Foster is finished post WC, the idea that an announcement prior to WC will affect Foster is b/s. He handled pressure as a player and last year as a coach, it’ll just make him determined to achieve the biggest hurrah. I hope they lock his successor in soon. The really unfair thing for Scott Robertson, is his long time right hand man making the biggest difference in the AB’s improvement last year and that saved Foster’s bacon. I still find it extraordinary that so many All Blacks, including Crusader players! had Foster’s back, maybe that spoke more against Razor than for Foster? So, I think Jamie Joseph is a big chance for next AB coach and also think a lot will depend on the coaching team those 2 guys propose.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Haha he is still behind Dean's...
LBJ
Roar Rookie
Mate you are absolutely crackers - what on earth are you talking about?!. I can only assume you are related to him? Rennie was an utter disaster from beginning to end. He leaves behind precisely zero positives. His man-management was appalling - Both players and staff. Tactics indecipherable. No connection with the rugby community. And then of course his actual performance was literally the worst in history. We were heading straight for a pool level exit at the RWC. The only impressive thing I've learned is how incredibly loyal kiwis are to each other - I remember some defending Penny getting sacked after a zero % season - now that's truly amazing.
LBJ
Roar Rookie
Hell Yes! Go Eddie! He might not be the messiah but he is having immediate success in talking to Australians. Which is important. Rennie never understood or perhaps cared about that. He made on-field success the only measure. Which at 35% meant he had to be sacked.
Up north taniwha
Guest
I personally think he is getting a team on the up and before Jones was named coach of the Wallabies at the expense of Dave Rennie, I actually thought the Wallabies had a very good chance of winning this world cup. I can't remember an international team in the past decade that has had as many first team players out injured as the Wallabies have had to deal with over the last few years? Yet Rennie still had them going pretty damn good. He never made excuses, he just got in with it. Who can blame him for wanting to rotate his squad so much, when he has so many injuries to contend with. So many games were within 1-5 points. And they were playing some awesome rugby. Some of the backline moves and set piece moves where outstanding! Like fast, legal, technical moves that left you thinking, what the, how did they.... Who... The... what the.... Pure rugby bliss. But they let themselves down at times also, with bad handling and way to many silly penalties at crucial times in the games. Yet they still got close and even beat a few of the best teams going around. Rennie really did have that team on the cusp of something great. And I think if your a rugby follower, you would of thought the same. So if Jones doesn't get results and straight away, then that's a fail and a really dumb decision on behalf of those who make these decisions in the ARU. ENGLAND where never that great under Eddie, I'm sorry, but it's the truth. They never made you want to wake up and watch them play. You never thought they would win this game or that game, they just did, sometimes. And it was usually due to one player having an outstanding game and the team reaping the benefits. The wallabies under Rennie, was a team you could feel was so close to becoming something great, a team you would find a way to watch where ever they played and at whatever time, one you would spend the majority of the game on the edge of your seat even when they where behind, because you knew this could be the game they really click. They did so with so many injuries, and so many doubters and haters. You can feel the respect the players had for Rennie, they thought he was the man to lead them to a world cup final! They believed in him and his style of rugby. Now there all just towing the line and being respectful towards Jones, so as not to get his wrath and miss a world cup due to comments they may make. Jones said he wants to instill pride back into the jersey? I have to say, Rennie had already done that, and he had done so not only by building on the Aussie diggers mentality of never lay down and never give up, but he had also bought the Polynesian bond, that close knit family, and tribal bond. There strength in always having your brother's back and always picking each other up and moving forward together regardless of the h hurdles that lay in front of you. Because you will do whatever it takes for you iwi, your family, your whanua, your tribe, your Wallaby brothers. He included all the other ethnicities into the playing group to make ALL the players proud to pull on that Wallabies Jersey and to become part of the Wallabies family. Will Eddie be able to build on that??? I guess time will tell, but I don't think he will. Sorry, that's my opinion and I could be very wrong. But as I said, if he can't get results and good results with the team he has literally been handed on a silver platter! Then I'm sorry, but the wiring was on the wall. All the hype, all the media, all the Aussie coach, Aussie team, don't mean Jack, unless they win. And not boring ugly win, I mean win. With free flowing running rugby, awesome set piece moves and a backline that showcases players potential and talent. A scrum they may not be the biggest or the heaviest, yet will push and drive with a strength not many teams in world rugby can match. Never die trying and never fold to make others happy, when you know your on the cusp of greatness. Play the way you know and they way you want to be remembered by. Proud and head held high, because to lose any other way, is not going to get people to watch rugby again. It's not going to change anything except go backwards. Good luck. Your going to need it now. And it's your own fault :sick:
Guess
Roar Rookie
Yep he was growing that squad but the fruits will be gathered by Jones. It felt like wallabies were on the rise. Even with so many injuries he managed to be a threat to any team but now it's all a waste and we'll never know how well his squad would do at wc.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Mr 58% hasn't played NZ as often as he played Italy (they are improving btw)
Guess
Roar Rookie
And with England I thought Jones himself knew that his forwards was the reason for his percentage but turns out he thinks it’s him :laughing:
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
> There are more subtle and accurate ways to assess coaching momentum than historical win/loss ratios. So subtle nobody even knows what they are.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
He hasn't even selected his training squad or assistants and already many have written him off.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
17 years ago. The trolls are out in force on this one today. Do you know what the winning percentage for a successful coach is? 66%. Not 75. Not 80. But all you need to be a record breaking successful coach is 66%. So Eddie wasn't that far off and has had 17 years to build on it. I reckon he will go OK.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
20% improvement!
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
I think he might have learned a thing or two in 17 years. Not everyone is as dumb as they were in high school their whole life.
buster
Guest
If Eddie fails, what price Nucifora?
Micko
Roar Rookie
Still angry about Rennie? :laughing:
Ucnthandlethtruth
Roar Rookie
Australian Rugby is a joke so it makes sense they hired a clown to coach them.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Woodward is happy to be the only English coach with a WC. Jones went close and got hammered for being beaten. Borthwick looses first game but he’s OK, not a challenge to Sir Clive, yet.
Highlander
Roar Guru
Woodward is a shocker eh
Mirt
Roar Rookie
And according to Woodward it’s his fault England have dropped to sixth as well.