Potential Eddie move that would 'surprise' Ryles, as assistant defends Wallabies' rugby IQ against 'yes men' taunt

LYON – Wallabies assistant coach Jason Ryles says he’d be surprised if Eddie Jones decides to walk away from the job after the World Cup but adds the under-pressure coach hasn’t shared his thoughts on his future with his close knit team.

Ryles meanwhile defended the coaching set up in the face of criticism of its unusual make up. Jones has ex-NRL player Ryles, who is heading to the Melbourne Storm after the World Cup, and former NRL star Brett Hodgson, as well as two coaches with an AFL background in his team in France.

Former coach Alan Jones, writing for News Corp, said this week: “[Eddie Jones] has surrounded himself with rugby league coaches who don’t know our game and “yes” men rugby union coaches.

“In effect, none of the Wallabies assistant coaches have the ticker to challenge Jones. Jones has designed it that way.”

Ryles said the coaching team was intent on executing Jones’ plans in the lead up to a massive match – one that Tim Horan told Stan Sport is “probably the biggest game for the Wallabies in professional rugby (for) the future of the game.”

“Eddie has been great. This week he has stepped up even more, in regards to being really clear on what he wants and what he expects from Wales and how we can negate that and possibly attack their strengths. 

“As far as the coaching cohesion inside the coaches meetings and that type of thing, it’s been very productive and we’re sticking to our process.”

The Wallabies gave away 18 penalties in the loss to Fiji that has left them needing to beat Wales to stay alive in the competition.

SAINT-ETIENNE, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 04: Assistant coach Jason Ryles during a Wallabies training session ahead of the Rugby World Cup France 2023, on September 04, 2023 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Several of those were related to the breakdown, leading to criticism that Australia’s mixed bag of coaches might have lacked the technical knowledge to address issues in the key area.

“We’ve got Eddie who is fairly experienced. Then we’ve got Neal Hatley (forwards coach) who has done it his whole life,”said Ryles.

“We’ve got Dan Palmer (lineout coach) who lives for scrums, which is different in itself but that’s his thing. Then we’ve got Pierre (Henry Broncan, maul consultant) as well.

“They’re the four rugby guys and myself and Brett Hodgson (defence coach) from rugby league and then Neil Craig (from AFL) with leadership. 

“Coaching is coaching at the end of the day but there’s four really experienced rugby guys there. So, we’re there to give a different point of view. At the end of the day we’re coaching as hard as we can in line with Eddie’s vision and also what we see as well. He’s very open to what we’ve got to contribute.” 

Jones has opted not to confirm if he will continue after the tournament, regardless of the outcime.

“At the end of the World Cup there’ll be a review. And given the results we’ve had then maybe Australian rugby doesn’t want to keep me. That’s the reality of the job I live in. And I understand that,” said Jones.

Ryles said the assistants were in a bubble when it comes to external criticism of Jones, and also when it comes to his future.

“It’s one of those things where he hasn’t said anything to us, obviously,” Ryles said.

“Just basically, ‘watch this space’ because there’s a big job ahead for the next four years with the Wallabies, which he’s started already and got some pretty good foundations down. 

“To walk away from that would be a bit of a surprise, because there is a lot of green shoots there for the future. But I am not too sure what he will do to be honest with you. It’s good to have options, by the sounds of it.”

Should Jones opt to stay – he does have a long-term contract and Rugby Australia apparently wants him to carry on – he will have to refresh his coaching lineup. This one was cobbled together for a “smash and grab” due to his late arrival Ryles, for one, has future commitments, but he stressed how much the World Cup meant to him.

“Any time you get to represent your country, whether it’s rugby league, rugby union, or marbles I take it really personally. I understand the magnitude and the size of the World Cup, I’ve been involved in England’s preps to 2019 and a little bit after that as well. And then back again now,” Ryles said.

“When I got the opportunity, the first thing I thought was one to be part of the World Cup, to work for the Wallabies and how good would it be to go deep in the tournament and see what happens and do whatever you can to help that.

“It’s deeply personal because I am representing my country and then on the other side, I get to work with one of the leading coaches in the world and that’s a huge thing for me personally. 

“The criticism back home? Honestly, we are in a good bubble over here. I think Eddie has dealt with all of that, by the sound of it.”