The hits have kept coming for the Wallabies at the Rugby World Cup in France with the team sinking to an all-time low in the world rankings at 10.
Following their record 40-6 loss to Wales in Lyon, which all but ended their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in history, the Australians have dropped one place on the rankings.
Eddie Jones’s men have traded places with new No.9-ranked Argentina, who are coached by ex-Wallabies boss Michael Cheika.
With Argentina picking up 1.72 points for their scrappy 19-10 win over Samoa and Australia losing two-and-a-half points in their heavy defeat, the teams have swapped rankings with Wallabies in 10th for the first time since the rankings were introduced.
Ireland increased their standing as world No.1 on the back of their rousing win over South Africa, with France replacing the Springboks in second spot.
Cheika was at the Australian helm at the last World Cup in Japan in 2019 but quit the post immediately following their thumping 40-16 elimination in the quarter-finals by the then Jones-coached England.
Despite the disaster campaign in France this time around, Jones says he has no plans to walk away from the job, with four years remaining on his contract which runs through to the 2027 tournament in Australia.
“One hundred per cent I’m committed,” Jones said.
“I came back to Australia trying to help. At the moment I am not giving much help, am I? But that doesn’t mean my commitment to helping has changed.
“Whenever you start the job you want to win games and create the best team we can but there is a process involved … it unfortunately takes times, takes some pain.
“Sometimes it takes more pain than it does pleasure, I have no doubt what I set out to do. While it looks at the moment like it’s a shambles, I can guarantee it’s not.”
Jones’s comments come after the coach denied he was interviewed to take over as Japan rugby coach just days before the tournament opener, with their current coach Jamie Joseph stepping down.
Eddie Jones. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
The Japan Rugby Football Union have refused to comment, saying they have a policy not to disclose any information about candidates.
Rugby Australia (RA) chief executive Phil Waugh said he was trusting Jones’s word that he had not being interviewed, with Wallabies skipper Will Skelton taking the same view.
RA chairman Hamish McLennan said he was aware of a job offer made to Jones but that the 63-year-old had turned it down.
A report out of Japan suggested that Jones may been assisting with the coaching recruitment process given his close relationship with JRFU President Masato Tsuchida.
Currently holding a role as Tokyo Sungoliath’s consulting director of rugby, Jones has had a working relationship with the club since 1997, with Masato a former player and head coach at the club.
The Wallabies were back on the training paddock on Tuesday, preparing for their final pool game against world No.16 Portugal, in Saint-Etienne on Sunday (Monday AEST).
Their World Cup dream could be officially over as early as Saturday (Sunday AEST) if pool rivals Fiji down Georgia and score four tries.
Virgil
Roar Rookie
I see your point!
Virgil
Roar Rookie
A lot of pot and kettle! :laughing:
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
He did, and that’s my point, he contradicts himself frequently when commenting on RA. When they appointed Rennie, he was scathing of RA for not making a serious attempt at getting Eddie Jones to break his English contract for the Wallabies job. Then, once they did appoint Eddie, he was scathing of RA for appointing him :laughing:
PeterK
Roar Guru
that makes it official Wallabies are tier 2. IMO normally the top 9 are tier 1. Historically this is based on 5 of the 6n's excluding Italy. The 4 teams in the rc NZ, SA, Aust and Arg make it the top 9. Now with the change in eligibility rules Fiji has supplanted the Wallabies and rightfully so. The change in eligibility rules have achieved their purpose. The fact is australia does not have much talent nor depth anymore. Even with all o/s based stars available for all tests and used they may rise to 8 or 9 sometimes. However the best o/s based stars are not young so longer term wallabies ranked 10 or 11 could be almost permanent.
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
A bit of pot and kettle there then :happy:
Virgil
Roar Rookie
In fairness to Alan Jones, he was scathing of the recent appointment of Eddie Jones. Didn’t he call EJ a classic narcissist?
Lucky
Roar Rookie
Eddie did actually break all kinds of records this world cup, just negative ones.
Footy Franks
Roar Rookie
Well the wallabies will need those expensive psychiatrists for these players. One thing Eddie got right in his tenure. Go Portugal. I’d love it if you win and Eddie’s excuse would be that we didn’t have enough resources.
mrl
Roar Rookie
We are still in the top ten...ahead of the Socceroos.
Passit2me
Roar Rookie
And to think, Alan Jones was highly critical of RA not making a serious attempt at getting Eddie Jones back in the top job, when they appointed Rennie.