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Australian rugby is on edge. Their coach Eddie Jones has gone rogue, or at the very least turned extraordinarily vague, throughout its failed World Cup campaign and now Rugby Australia and fans are waiting for answers to that question.
Did he or did he not have a zoom interview with the Japan Rugby Football Union on the eve of the Wallabies’ World Cup campaign?
As recently as Thursday, as Jones touched down late at night, he maintained he was “committed to Australia” and had had “no discussion with them” about taking over from departing New Zealand coach Jamie Joseph.
Jones will hold a press conference on Tuesday. RA is not yet clear on what the Wallabies coach will do.
The governing body has been told by Jones and his representatives that he is committed to Australian rugby.
Yet mystery surrounds his future given multiple reports linking him to a return to the Brave Blossoms head coaching job and a second interview in November.
For a union that typically likes to distance themselves from controversy, the reports will unlikely go down well in Japan. Could they scupper the deal?
Eddie Jones’ future is in doubt following the Wallabies’ worst World Cup result. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
If indeed an interview did occur, RA could yet choose to terminate Jones’ deal given the terrible look that a Wallabies coach, contacted until the end of 2027, could take their eyes so clearly off the ball and to another country and campaign. So much for only looking until October 28 – the date of the World Cup final – and a constant fallback of Jones’ since returning to Australia in January whenever pressed on subject matters of contention.
Then, of course, there is the matter of whether Jones should be sacked following the Wallabies’ disastrous World Cup campaign, which ended with a historic failure to get out of the pool?
They have followed the same unflattering fate of Stuart Lancaster’s English side at their home World Cup in 2015.
Lancaster and his team, including Irish coach Andy Farrell and his assistant Mike Catt, left for the Emerald Isle and turned Ireland into one of the game’s most consistent and best sides. Farrell’s side can equal the world record of 18 consecutive Test wins should they prevail over the All Blacks at the Stade de France on Saturday.
So if Jones walks, or is pushed should it be proved that Jones actively wanted to walk out on the Wallabies less than one year into his five year deal, who could replace him?
DAN MCKELLAR
Considered Dave Rennie’s heir apparent no less than 12 months ago, McKellar left Jones’ coaching ticket within a month to take over from Steve Borthwick at Leicester – the man who was tasked to replace Jones after the Australian’s axing as England coach last December.
McKellar isn’t a big time former player, but the former prop quickly established himself as one of the most promising young coaches in the Australian rugby landscape.
The Queensland product, who cut his teeth as a coach in Ireland as a player-coach, was Stephen Larkham’s assistant before taking over as the Brumbies head coach in 2018 – the year his predecessor joined Michael Cheika’s Wallabies full-time.
Dan McKellar is the leading candidate to take over from Eddie Jones should the Wallabies have a new coach in 2023. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
McKellar quickly changed tack from Larkham’s program, believing the side needed to be able score from all corners of the field, particularly in its own half, rather than rely on the pragmatic style under his predecessor which relied heavily on the rolling maul.
Initially the Brumbies struggled in the transition from coaches, but by year two the Brumbies were making headway. They made the semi-finals and fell short in Argentina.
Then, the Brumbies beat Warren Gatland’s Chiefs across the ditch before the Covid pandemic brought the end of the competition.
The Brumbies won the 2020 Super Rugby AU and were beaten at the death by the Reds in 2021, before losing a semi-final in heartbreaking circumstances to the Blues in Auckland in 2022.
It’s not just McKellar’s game plan that showed signs of promise, but his communication skills and the program he ran was widely respected.
If available, McKellar would be the No.1 Australian target.
STEPHEN LARKHAM
A man widely regarded as one of the Wallabies’ greatest playmakers.
Larkham took the Wallabies to World Cup glory in 1999, landing a clutch, long-range field goal against the Springboks to help send Rod Macqueen’s side through to the final.
The former silky playmaker started his coaching journey in Japan, before quickly returning to the Brumbies.
There he was thrust into the head coaching role quickly alongside Laurie Fisher after Jake White abruptly quit.
Larkham’s side regularly were finalists in Super Rugby but rarely looked like title contenders during his first iteration as head coach.
Stephen Larkham and Michael Cheka at Forsyth Barr Stadium on August 26, 2017 in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
He combined head coaching duties with the Brumbies as a long-time assistant with Cheika. Eventually Cheika brutally cut him drift as he looked to save his own tenure with the Wallabies at the end of 2018.
Larkham plays a pragmatic brand of rugby, which is heavily influenced by kicking.
He was well respected by the Wallabies during his stint as an assistant, even though his philosophy of rugby was at odds with Cheika.
Larkham returned from a three-season stint with Munster with a mixed reputation ahead of the 2023 season, with many believing he would help ignite their attack. It didn’t.
Yet, Larkham’s communication skills have undoubtedly returned with the benefit of extra years in the saddle. He has also experienced how Ireland – the world No.1 nation heading into the quarter-finals – operate and what works and what doesn’t.
The Brumbies threatened at times during Larkham’s return season in 2023, but once again bowed at the semi-final stages.
MICHAEL CHEIKA
Four years after exiting the Wallabies in messy circumstances, it’s rather astonishing that Cheika could be in the conversation to return as Australian coach.
While Cheika was the 2015 World Rugby coach of the year after leading the Wallabies to the World Cup final, things quickly went pear shaped.
Indeed, the Wallabies’ three-nil defeat to Jones’ England and the Bledisloe embarrassment that followed meant the oxygen from the 2015 campaign quicky was sucked out.
One step forward was met with another backward. Cheika’s Wallabies never recovered.
Could Michael Cheika take over from Eddie Jones (L) and return to the Wallabies head coaching role? (Photo by Steve Bardens – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)
Not only that, Cheika lost trust in many of those around him and became increasingly inward looking: those outside the Wallabies were viewed as enemies not colleagues.
Now an experienced international coach, who became the first provincial coach to win major domestic tournaments in the north and south, Cheika has enhanced his reputation since leaving the Wallabies.
A historic victory over the All Blacks in western Sydney as Mario Ledesma’s assistant was followed last year with Cheika’s Los Pumas defeating the three-time world champions in New Zealand.
Not only that, Cheika’s Pumas have won consecutive Tests over the Wallabies while they also beat England at Twickenham last November.
Los Pumas will take on Wales in the opening quarter-final of the 2023 World Cup. Victory would help his CV.
Many people, from politicians to coaches, have improved second time around. Could Cheika?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.