LYON – As the Wallabies crashed to a historic maiden World Cup pool exit on Sunday, Eddie Jones says he is “committed to coaching Australia” despite refusing to say whether he interviewed to take over Japan following the Rugby World Cup.
A report in the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday claimed that Jones had interviewed with the Japan Rugby Football Union to take over from Jamie Joseph two weeks before the Wallabies’ World Cup opener in France.
The report came mere weeks after Jones had described a separate report coming out of Japan linking him to the post as “bullshit and gossip”.
Eddie Jones has denied wanting to walk out on the Wallabies, as Australia’s World Cup campaign blew up in smoke at Parc Olympique on September 24, 2023 in Lyon. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh told reporters ahead of the Wallabies’ embarrassing 40-6 loss to Wales that he was taking Jones’ word that the veteran coach had not interviewed for the position.
“I’ve taken Eddie for what he said and the fact that he’s denied it,” Waugh told reporters in Lyon on Sunday afternoon.
“I take people for their word and that’s what I’ve been told, and so we move forward.
“I’m certainly not going to get into the game of speculating who’s having conversations with who. I think it’s just really important now to get behind the guys tonight and hopefully keep progressing through the tournament.”
Asked specifically whether he had interviewed for the Japan role, Jones denied all knowledge of speaking with the rival union.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, mate,” he said.
Probed whether he had a second interview lined up, Jones again denied all knowledge of the report.
He added: “I’m committed to coach Australia.”
Wallabies players, including acting captain Dave Porecki, said they were none the wiser about the report and added the subject had not been addressed ahead of their do-or-die World Cup Pool C fixture.
“I don’t think many of the boys were aware of anything, to be honest,” Porecki said.
“We got a good week or prep, probably our best week of prep and we didn’t turn up tonight.
“It’s [the result] got nothing to do with the outside noise, it’s just got to do with our performance and we weren’t good enough.”
Eddie Jones denied knowledge of a secret zoom meeting with Japan rugby officials at his press conference following the Wallabies’ loss to Wales at Parc Olympique on September 24, 2023 in Lyon. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Jones, whose work ethic is considered second to none, said he disappointed to see his commitment questioned.
“I really take umbrage at the questioning that people are questioning my commitment to coaching Australia. I really take umbrage at it,” he said.
“I’ve been working nonstop since I’ve come in. And I apologise for the results. I keep saying that. But questioning my commitment to the job I think is a bit red hot.
“So, we’re not going to deal with any of those questions any further. I’m happy to talk about Wales, I’m happy to talk about Portugal [the Wallabies’ next pool opponents], but if you want to keep going down that line, I’ll excuse myself.”
The Wallabies remain a mathematical chance to progress into the quarter-finals, but they would require Fiji to lose both their remaining two fixtures to Georgia and Portugal, who both sit outside the top 10 on World Rugby’s rankings. The Wallabies would have to also win their final fixture with a bonus point.
Whether Rugby Australia sacks Jones remains to be seen after their worst result at a World Cup, with the Wallabies coach winning just one from eight Tests since being parachuted into the role at Dave Rennie’s expense in January.
Jones insisted he was the right person to turn the Wallabies around.
“Well, that’s not my judgment. That’s the judgment of Rugby Australia,” Jones said.
“I think I’ve got the ability to turn things around.
“I was hoping we’d be able to do it by now, but we haven’t been out to and, as I said, I take full responsibility for it. I haven’t done a good enough job and I’m bloody disappointed about that.
“I came back to Australia to try and help. At the moment I’m not giving much help, am I? But that doesn’t mean my commitment to help has changed.
“I’m a proud Australian and I hate to see Australian rugby do as poorly as we’ve been doing, particularly under my reign, I came back to try and help.
“There’s not only the Wallabies we’ve got to improve, we’ve got to improve the whole system in Australian rugby. That’s not an excuse, but we’ve got to have a really good look at ourselves and see what we’ve got to do to improve the way we’re going about our rugby.”
The Wallabies react following their World Cup loss to Wales at Parc Olympique on September 24, 2023 in Lyon. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
Jones’ Wallabies were the youngest squad at this year’s World Cup, with the veteran coach brutally not selecting Michael Hooper – the nation’s most capped captain – and experienced playmakers Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley.
Foley, who featured at the past two World Cups and this year led Kubota to the Japanese League One title, tweeted following the Wallabies’ loss that “It didn’t have to be like this”.
However, Jones insisted he made the right call by backing the next generation of Wallabies.
“I was put in this job to turn Australia around and I don’t think I could have done it with the players that had been playing. I think we needed a fresh change,” he said.
“Sure, the young guys struggled in the environment today but unless they get that experience they’re not going to mature into the players they can be.
“This is the most painful time, don’t get me wrong, but it’s also the best learning time for a young team and young players. This is where they really learn about the game and they learn what you’ve got to be at Test level.
“There’s not a team I haven’t coached that hasn’t gone through before at the start of their tenure. It just happens to be quite a big environment which makes it very painful.”
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
No. We know with absolute certainty that if Jones was to walk away on his own choosing, he would not be entitled to a pay out. No contract would be that silly.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
How dumb do Phil Waugh and Mclennan think we are?
Clippers
Roar Rookie
Australia A won 30-17 against Portugal prior the the World Cup. A week later Wales put 28 on the board against Portugal. Australia A also practiced against Fiji prior to the World Cup, kind of seems odd now warming up our pool opposition. I don’t know what I’m saying here, I’m depressed and stunned. But there’s probably something in all that.
Cec
Roar Rookie
The only certainty is no one knows what’s in his contract except for RA & Eddie.
Cec
Roar Rookie
But Ed has already lied to all of us about how he is on track for a smash & grab of RWC23.
The Bush
Roar Guru
People said he was too old when he took over Japan eleven years ago (at which time he was only 52)? That seems rough. Honestly, until his success with Japan and then England (at first), I was a Jones sceptic; he inherited a great Australian Team and over time ruined them and then destroyed my beloved Queensland in 2007 (I know they were already stinking, but that year felt like our genuine annus horribilis). Honestly, up to his move to Japan, he was a good technical advisor, but a questionable coach, in my opinion. He proved me wrong after that, but as we've seen now, he problematic personality traits never went away and, as I said in my original post, I just don't see why this wasn't expected.
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
Japan won't now but it certainly does matter
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
remember when our former PM Scomo kept avoiding a question about if he tried to get a pedi protector into a white house dinner by saying it was just gossip and he doesn't answer gossip questions.
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
I said before the game that even if we lose Jones shouldn't be sacked. But that performance against Wales was the worst Wallabies performance I have ever seen. In what was arguably the most important game for the sport in our country. I now believe he should resign or be sacked. Same with HM
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
Eddie needed to be in 2 or 3 years before the RWC - how did the AB's go when Hansen took over? he had time to work with the team
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
But remember these were the exact things said about Eddie a decade ago when he took over Japan
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Bit of a different scenario to you or I thought. We can provide 4 weeks notice and leave. Eddie has committed exclusively to Aus for 5 years and has more than 4 to go. Any meeting is with intent to break his contract.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You would think we’d waive any clause that results in Eddie being off our books as quickly as possible
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Which coach would not want to take on the BI lions and a WC at home. It is strange to give that up. I can understand why he would leave the Stormers job for Red roses back then. This is also like his last chance at redemption on finally winning a WC.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Does damage count?
Kane
Roar Guru
I very much doubt Australian employment law would find telling your employer you’re not interviewing elsewhere when you are as a dismissible offence
Guess
Roar Rookie
Played like proper tier two nation. Anyone else still thinks Fiji were too good or ref was too bad? :silly:
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Was he referring to being bony selected, or was it a statement in general about the way they went down without a fight?
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
The only famous sports figure who absolutely was phenomenal to meet was Adam Goodes. There is just something about him that is electrifying. I've never met a more sincere and honest man than Adam Goodes. A very distant second is George Smith.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
They'd just let him go. No need for any of this other rubbish. Employee wants to leave. Employer doesn't want to keep him. Mutual agreement severing of the contract. If Japan withdraw the offer however, then it is different. RA would then have to pay out Jones a modest amount, and attach a stipulation that Jones cannot take another coaching role for x period of time, or pay him out in full with no strings attached.