Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan says Eddie Jones’s calamitous World Cup campaign ran over budget but he wanted to give the walk away coach every chance of success in France.
McLennan told Stan Sport that the campaign – after he promised Jones anything he wanted – cost more than RA wanted.
“Yeah it was a little bit,” McLennan said when asked if the campaign was over budget. He was asked if the blowout ran into millions.
“We don’t disclose that but yeah, it did extend the budget… more than we would like.
“Look, he had a budget that he agreed to and I think that was a little bit of a throwaway line at the time.
“What we were trying to do is to ensure that he had every resource so that the coaches couldn’t come back and say we didn’t succeed because we weren’t given the resources that we need. It was nothing more than that.”
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
The budget will be examined as part of the review into the World Cup campaign by ex-Wallabies Justin Harrison and Andrew Slack and consultant Darlene Harrison.
McLennan admitted he had not spoken to Jones about reports linking him to Japan.
“I know what the answer would be. He’s actually claimed that there was absolutely nothing to it. He’s got nothing to go to. But certainly, yeah, the Herald believe there’s absolute truth in that (Zoom interview),”said McLennan.
“So I think in the fullness of time we’ll find out what’s happened.”
McLennan, who said the decision to select Jones was not his alone but a board decision, denied he had become estranged from Jones near the end of the coach’s tenure.
“He’s an intense character…. but there was no issue and actually I’ve been very publicly supportive of him. So I think I had a fair handle on what he’s like to work with,”said McLennan.
“And so I actually didn’t want to overly meddle.”
McLennan again said he wanted to stay and help fix Australian rugby.
“I always knew that there would be a moment like this where it would get really ugly and all I’d say to all of the rugby fans and the stakeholders – certainly, again, I apologise for what happened through the World Cup.
“But hopefully you see somebody with a steely resolve… and I really believe the plan and what we’ve got coming up with the (home) World Cups will be transformative.
“I copped a bit of stick for sticking around in Paris, which I think was unfair and uncalled for. We as Australian rugby got a whole lot of stuff through (in World Rugby meetings) that will really benefit the game in the future.”
He also said the number of Shore School old boys in the halls of power at RA over recent years was “bizarrely coincidental.”
“I was asked to come in in 2020 – I don’t think my school had anything to do with it. I take a little bit of offence to the way [Phil Waugh] is portrayed in the media about that because he’s a 79 cap Wallaby.
“He’s built a very successful career outside of rugby and he was very hands on right through the very dark days of rugby over the last three years. So the board universally felt that he was the best candidate. So it’s coincidental more than anything.
“I don’t know what to say about that…
“I know it looks odd when you ask those questions but I can’t do anything about what’s happened in the past and a lot of good players did come out of that school – not me included.”
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
It’s my belief Mal that in the arrest of sociopathy, many social ills, limitations and arguments would be resolved, and a kinder, fairer world would open up.
MalBreakaway
Roar Rookie
Nice reply post. Thanks. My dig at Shore school was really just a dig at Hamish McClellan and his pawns. Rugby schools clearly have their place. It does seem complexity surrounds understanding personality disorders and removing them, but let’s hope that this is a frontier being resolved successfully because we sure need it across society, and obviously within RA
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ Smoke and mirrors manage the ignorant” Or, as Shakespeare once put it – “pageant(s) to hold us in false gaze”. Free minds are not manipulated from the same directions as are mobs. While I don’t have clarity about where the centre of Oz rugby power is, I suspect that wherever it is, the power is hard won. St Joseph’s, for instance, is a college with a century and a half of historical struggle for sectarian dignity, and has consequently ‘bred’ more Wallabies than any other school. This level of evangelism has borne good things too. Samoa play rugby now in because a Polynesian prince once attended school in Hunters Hill, and consequently took the game back to his island home. Shore, Kings, Knox, Barker and Riverview are also playing in this space. If one school (such as Shore) has some manner of ‘dominance’ I dare say that any incumbency is complex. But I repeat, I have little clarity on this. (And there are outliers. E.Jones and the Ella family of rugby legend rose from a non-privileged school). It is widely understood that power is rarely surrendered without struggle.But Australian rugby politics is not an argument over sheep stations, or the medical treatment of children, issues passionately and bitterly contested, as they should be. In Australian rugby, power seems to be more one of an ‘assumed indulgence’ rather than a path to life-changing fortunes. Australia’s richer are already rich.But I digress. I am in agreement with your principle as you have stated it here, and have an understanding of power personality disorders, having been exposed to them at work, (and in life over the last three years of lockdown and its enabling superannuated storytelling). But where the disorders actually lie I am unclear, But And who is to assume the veracity and power? to publicly diagnose public figures? Whistleblowers are the first messengers to be shot, or if not, to be publicly ridiculed into silence. And How do we, as a society, insulate, immunise, or otherwise protect, ourselves from the indulgent behaviours of such disordered individuals? If we find an unbalanced leader indulging like a ‘blind giant dancing’ what measures might we take? Personality disorder in high places is a complex issue. I’m yet to see a simple answer.
MalBreakaway
Roar Rookie
Its a funny thing that we’ve reached such social and technological awareness yet miss the elephants in the room. The ever changing morphology of the operations of power. Smoke and mirrors manages the ignorant. We simply need someone or a group of aware and wise who can navigate the minefields of media, parochialism and it seems the mafia of old boys from Shore.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
It will be interesting (in a further embarrassment for McLennan kind of way) when the Slack-Harrison-Harrison review finds devastating deficiencies in the coaching of the WB's RWC campaign. I'm confident the reviewers will point out those deficiencies because their credibility will be shot if they don't. (Of course there are other issues, too.)
HiKa
Roar Rookie
If you are after UK Golden Oldies (including The Goodies and plenty of other shows that can't nowadays be broadcast on free-to-air) then BritBox is probably the best way to get them.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Got me there. Although we all need to be careful with offhand comments in relation to Rugby Australia. A parallel universe where anything is possible.
oldoneeye
Roar Rookie
and an ego to match
oldoneeye
Roar Rookie
Extraordinary statements and admissions from HM. After acknowledging his errors in judgement and decision making he doesn't intend to learn any lessons from his mistakes. So are we to conclude from this that he will simply lead RA into the same idiocy again!!!! What an ego!! If he was the Chair of any public company he would be drawn and quartered. It seems the clowns are definitely running the circus.
Cannonball
Roar Rookie
I might have to think about a Foxtel subscription. God knows the Stan one has been dangerous for our TV :stoked:
cs
Roar Guru
Not really. It was just one of many Labor initiated referenda that have failed because they didn't have opposition support. In percentage terms, the result was about halfway down the list.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ Removing such personality disorders from” all levels of power in Australia (and everywhere else) “ is critical for” a world for for our children and grandchildren to live in. :boxing: But please direct me to the ‘personality disorder removal kit’ .
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
When the call leads to a fall.
Wat_da_FNQ
Roar Rookie
When is a Captains call not a Captain's call??
Wolzal
Roar Rookie
The Goodies is literally being broadcast every weeknight right now on Fox Classics.
mushi
Roar Guru
If he always knew I hope it was brought up at the Board Meeting or process which approved or ratified the budget. Otherwise I think he was in breach of his duties as a director.
El Flash
Roar Rookie
Teflon Hamish !!!
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Just to be clear, I was being sarcastic about her social media post, pitching for Hamish. I wasn't meaning to imply or state that she is involved in any formal capacity.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
I was on about the partner trip before the WC that the women players were upset about. Having your spouse working in the same company is never good for work or home life
Olly
Roar Rookie
I get all the frustration but the bit I don't get is all the talk about him causing financial damage. He has overseen the game from complete financial ruin on the verge of collapse to returning a surplus in the millions..has there been a new financial report I am missing?