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Eddie Jones has declared that win or lose it will be time to leave his job as Wallabies coach after the World Cup.
Jones, speaking on the Evening Standard Rugby Podcast, also made his thoughts clear on the Giteau law, praising Will Skelton as the best in the world in his position and giving a huge hint that Richie Arnold is in line for a World Cup spot.
Jones sensationally signed a deal in January that takes him through the end of the next World Cup in 2027 but rejected suggestions he was in it for the long haul.
“I’m only coaching to this World Cup,” Jones said. “I’ve signed, but as I’ve made the mistake before, I’ve stayed too long. So we win the World Cup it will be time to go. If we lose the World Cup it will be time to go.”
Whether Jones genuinely belies that, or it’s another example of the veteran’s mind games, only he knows right now. He has talked of the World Cup campaign as being a “smash and grab” and anything is possible whichever scenario works out for the Wallabies in France.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones during an Australia Wallabies training camp at Sanctuary Cove on April 18, 2023 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
One matter to be worked out is what happens with the Giteau Law. There have been suggestions that Jones will get what he wants for this campaign – but, surprisingly, he suggests the approach hasn’t been locked down less than four months from the opening World Cup game on September 9.
“The Wallabies have a law called the Giteau Law where you could only have three players outside Australia with 30 caps,” Jones told the podcast.
“We haven’t tabled that with the board yet, but I’m sure we’re going to get a positive response on getting more players. Because we’ve got [Will] Skelton, who’s probably the best right-sided lock in the world, Richie Arnold at Toulouse, who’s a fantastic player in the Top 14.
“Quade Cooper, [Samu] Kerevi, [Marika] Koroibete – we can’t snub that sort of talent. I think Australians are always better when they are underdogs, when everyone thinks they haven’t got a sniff of it. They can come in under the radar.”
Cooper was a member of Jones’ Barbarians team that played against a World XV in London on the weekend. The pair have a long history, and the No.10 looks nailed on – injuries allowing – to be trusted with the No.10 jersey in France.
“I had him first year out of school, and I was spending most of our time trying to work out where he was,” said Jones. “And now he’s matured into a real professional. Just look at the way he looks after his body now. Talking about the Barbarians, he’s been in the gym every morning training and he’ll be a significant player for us.”
Jones revealed he has had weekly catch ups with the team’s leadership group – he had six involved at the camp and Cooper is likely to be part of that core group as well.
“That’s one of the advantages of being in more of a franchised situation – to do that in England with the clubs, it’d be almost impossible in today’s environment because you’re not going to get that exposure to them.
“We are trying to build that leadership group up to being a team that’s led by the team, not a team that’s led by the coach.
“We’re working hard on developing an Australian style of play – we’ve lost that a little bit. We’ve become too much like the Kiwis and tried to play their way, which is the way most teams in the world try to look at the game.
“We’re trying to go back to a more abrasive, aggressive style in your face Australian game.”
He said the other focus was “to get that balance right between hard work and enjoyment. Because the World Cup is going to be quite challenging in France. We’re in a little place called St Etienne. It’s not the most exciting place in the world. So we’re going to have to create a good environment for the players to not only enjoy it but work really hard.”
That would also shape how he picks his 33-man squad for the tournament.
“Having been to a few World Cups, what we try to do is pick the top XV and then we’ll pick the bottom five and the bottom five will be more about character, guys who want to train hard, are good round the team, have got a bit of life about them,” said Jones.
“You can’t have your third hooker or your third fly-half kicking stones, they are the ones who cause problems, so you need them to be good characters, positive characters.”
Eddie Jones talks with members of his leadership group during his first training camp . (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
As for the Wallabies’ chances, he suggested the current world ranking of 7 and that accompanying low level of expectation might suit his team.
“Australians are always better when they’re underdogs. When everyone thinks they can they haven’t got a sniff of it they can come in under the radar,” said Jones.
“You look at it – seven teams right at the top of World Rugby. It’s never been this way. Whilst Ireland and France have been dominant, I don’t think there is any team that doesn’t think they can beat those two, whereas we’ve had in previous World Cups New Zealand being miles ahead, clear favourites – this World Cup is going to be different.”