He might have overseen the Wallabies’ worst result at a Rugby World Cup, but Eddie Jones claims he is a “much better coach” than he was before taking over his home nation.
Jones’ comments came as the recently departed Wallabies coach, who quit one season into a five-year deal, once again defended his decision-making in an interview with The Australian and added that he would likely be in a job by the new year with “several” suitors interested in his services.
The Australian’s name is currently toast in Australian rugby, having walked away from his role as Wallabies coach just weeks after his decision to go all in on youth at the World Cup backfired.
The circus surrounding his future and the fiasco surrounding his dealings with the Japan Rugby Football Union on the eve of the World Cup added to the bitterness directed towards his second tenure in charge of the Wallabies.
Yet, curiosity surrounds his next move.
It’s not just Japan who are on the hunt for a new head coach, with Fiji and Tonga amongst the emerging rugby nations needing a new coach.
But unlike the deep pockets in Japan or in French club rugby, as well as potentially the United States of America, Fiji and Tonga wouldn’t be able to financially entice Jones.
Jones handed in his notice late last month, citing Rugby Australia’s inability to deliver on their promises of bringing in more financial resources as well as reform. He will finish up with RA on November 25.
Jones said he was eager to jump back into the coaching fray despite his horrible recent record and added that his decision to go all-in on youth for the failed campaign in France was, in part, down to laying the foundations for the road ahead.
“Obviously I want to coach,” Jones told The Australian.
“I’m looking for a job now. If Japan did come knocking I’d definitely chat to them and I’ve had a couple of other countries approach me. There’s a club in Europe interested so I would expect by January I’ll be working again.
“Australia has been a massive disappointment for me – and all this stuff about Japan like, why would I take the youngest squad to the World Cup? So we had the youngest team in the World Cup, right, why would I do that? Why would I do that if I had no intention on staying on? I am not an idiot – I had the intention of staying on. For the play that I had, it then had to have the (high performance) system change in place otherwise we are going to have more of the same.”
Eddie Jones speaks following his final Test in charge of the Wallabies at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on October 01, 2023 in Saint-Etienne. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Jones’ openness to returning to Japan, who he led to the 2015 World Cup and oversaw one of the biggest upsets the game has seen when the Brave Blossoms beat the Springboks, deepens the clouds surrounding his denials to interviewing with the JFRU in late August further.
Jones reiterated his stance that he hasn’t spoken with the JFRU in any official capacity.
“I’ve had no formal talks with them (Japan), everyone knows that discussions take place, like I’ve had a discussion this morning with the club, and that doesn’t mean I’m taking the job as well, that doesn’t mean I’m being disloyal to what I’m doing now,” Jones said.
“Because there’s agents in the world that are continually ringing up. They make money by connecting people. I haven’t done anything formal. I haven’t done anything untoward at all or had a formal approach in Japan … nothing’s changed in that regard.
“I’m looking for a job now, like I’m unemployed now. So year, I need to look for a job and if that’s a sin … then that’s a terrible thing I am doing.”
Jones has won just seven of his past 23 Tests in charge, with the Wallabies winning two of nine Tests in 2023.
The Australian’s two victories in 2023 came throughout the World Cup, as the Wallabies unconvincingly put away Georgia and Portugal.
Defeats to Fiji (22-15) and Wales (40-6) meant the Wallabies failed to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time.
Nonetheless, Jones said he was a better coach for the experience.
“As look as I’ve got the energy to do it, I’ll keep doing (coaching),” he said. “But as you know, in terms of experience and learning, the older you get, the better coach you are.
“I am a much better coach that I was this time last year. I’ve learnt a lot from Australia. I’ve learned some things I shouldn’t have done, some thing I didn’t do well and I’ll be a better coach in the next job that I do.”
Eddie Jones says he is a “much better coach” than he was before 2023. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Jones’ decision to hit the eject button and walk away from Australian rugby comes as the national body continues to try and implement reform.
Ever since RA chairman Hamish McLennan took charge in mid-2020, the under-siege administrator has struggled to get his reform measures across the line.
Indeed, RA’s “reset” has yet to be agreed upon, with Queensland and the ACT proving thorns in their quest to move to a more centralised system.
Jones said politics was holding back the game in Australia and urged stakeholders to embrace change like South Africa did following the 2015 World Cup.
I think everyone agrees there needs to be change but at the moment the totality of Australian rugby can’t find a way to make change,” he said.
“I give you an example of South Africa, in 2015, they get beaten by Japan. So they are rock bottom.
“They know they have a lot to change because the system they’ve got isn’t working. So what they do is they encourage their players to play overseas.
“They rejig their provinces at home and then they move their whole domestic competition to the northern hemisphere and what’s happened is that they’ve won two World Cups since.
“Australia is a small but great rugby country, we’ve won two World Cups. To think that we can keep doing what we’re doing and that we’ve only got the coaches to blame for it, it’s just foolhardiness. I think everyone understands that but at the moment, there’s not a political way forward and there’s not a financial way to get forward.”
Jones pointed to the modernisation of rugby league and cricket throughout the 20th century.
“The Australian Rugby union (Rugby Australia) is a federal system, so the states have the power and the national body can change things … if they’ve got money,” he said.
“The other thing I was reminded of what I was back was that two of our most successful sports are cricket and rugby league. And if you look at those sports, they were changed by a media empire coming in and basically buying squads, changing the way the administration thought and set the sports on a new pathway.
“When Super League happened everyone was forecasting the death of the sport – they were saying the sport is stuffed, it’s not going forward – and look at the NRL now. It’s one of the most vibrant domestic competitions in the world.
“And the same with cricket – everyone was decrying ‘oh the Sheffield Shield’s dead, we can’t go on’ … but now cricket’s never been so healthy. Success leaves clues … we know (Australian rugby) they want to change and there’s got to be some way to get a collective will and most of the time it takes money.”
Jones also took a shot at Super Rugby and, indeed, RA’s decision to change broadcasters, where the game was barely shown in pubs and clubs because of license regulations.
“Domestic rugby in Australia needs to be entertaining, because people only watch it if it is entertaining. If you go back to Super Rugby, Super 12s, it was the best against the best … and a lot of my mates who are mostly rugby league guys used to watch Super Rugby but they don’t watch it now,” he said.
“They don’t even know about it … unfortunately being on Stan makes it even worse because no one sees it, no one can go to the pub on a Friday night or a Saturday night and watch rugby.”
jeznez
Roar Guru
So a Rennie coached side with Hodge, Cooper, White and Ikitau should have had no issue. That’s a quality kicking unit. Pretty clear EJ took the side’s capability backwards
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Both times they lost because they had no kicking game to get around the organised defence and conceded scores and territory because of their inability to compete. It wasn’t the tries they conceded against Wales and Fiji it was the penalties that killed them. It was the same with Rennie. Did Eddie pick his best players probably not. Did the better players have the sames issues v SA, Arg and NZ most definitely. Did Rennie have the same issues, yes he did. Rennie only brat Wales in 2022 after being well behind and Wales getting 2 YC. The Wales team at the WC had all their OS players back and got rid of the past it players Pivac had kept.
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
I think you are confusing liquor licences with commercial agreements for using things eg licence agreements with broadcasters. Your liquor licence has nothing to do with what channels are on the TV.
jeznez
Roar Guru
By your logic Rennie’s AB’s lost to Italy by a missed conversion at the death. Eddie’s A’s shipped a record 40-6 v Wales. Definitely took the team backwards.
Angus
Roar Rookie
It effects your liquor licence for the venue if some one was to audit your business as well as Stan itself. Which occurs more often than not, mostly with kayo and Spotify services. Most places that do this get away with it, but the penalities are very expensive. 7.1 The Stan Service, the Software and any Content that you view via the Stan Service are for your personal and non-commercial use only and may not be made available to view in any commercial premises. We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, personal and non-transferable license to:
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
I'm pointing out that Oz has no one that can kick tactically, or control a breakdown. How Italy beat Oz was basically the gameplan used against them at the WC. Its fine, a Benetton team played the same tactics v the Bulls in the rainbow Cup and destroyed them, its just a style most Oz/SR players aren't use too as most kickers are downfield so backs just counter and the Forwards don't move. Same way Italy beat Wales undet Pivac.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Who do you leave out
El Gamba
Roar Guru
When does accountability start though? And yes, Wales rugby an absolute basket case and yet they got out of the pools
jeznez
Roar Guru
Since you compare to the B team performance vs Italy, then you are admitting that EJ took the A side backwards
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Agree the board are making terrible decisions and the sooner they bring in someone else (like a David Nucifora) the better. He then could make calls like player contracts and coaching contracts and the board's job is to then hold them to account. Eddie was out of work and was not likely to be getting a job for a few months so would have been mad to have turned down the RA. It seems everyone is happy to talk about great things but when it goes bad there is either no accountability or the wrong person is blamed. I know love to know what was promised to Eddie that caused him to sign on as I would guess RA oversold what they had power to change for him. Same happened with Wales and Gats.
El Gamba
Roar Guru
Always appreciate your perspective BNHjust to step away from the weeds a little, bear with me. The spectacular failure of EJ taking over from DR was, with 20/20 hindsight, was close to catastrophic. Who made those decisions? Suali, if that reported cost is real? Negligent. The board must go. Baby faced CEO included, lots of talk about alignment, not much about accountability
El Gamba
Roar Guru
And the leadership to make the most of the opportunities? Hammer has been busy pouring bleach all over the bath tub. There’s no evidence of a baby let alone bath water
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Not sure how much they were holding ball under Rennie but they lost alot of games because they were getting pinged at the breakdown and conceding penalties and scores because of it. Yes they improve in part in 2022 three years into his tenure but what was the main issues when they lost to Italy.
Pisda Chastna
Roar Rookie
Skelton was in the team that lost to Argentina France Ireland and NZ. Was he a failure too?. Eddie should have picked to tour Ikitau, Samu, Holloway, Cooper, Hooper, Sio, BPA, Wilson, Foley, Rory Arnold, Campbell, Lukhan, Neville, L Lonergan, Toole, Simone, Latu and Talakai.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Funny that Rennie’s side could hold the ball more than three phases. Change of coach and suddenly they struggle to keep it or instead kick it away. Yep, players just lost ability in a year.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
England kicked 93% of their position as one article states about how those who ran lost. Were is cleaners out of position because they don't know where to go or because he put them in the wrong place. We see Oz teams in SRP often losing the breakdown because the cleaners aren't there or they aren't able to clean. England didn't have cleaning issues nor did Japan. Eddie very much is do the basics and then add on frills and I think the next coach is either going to go more down the Rennie route and have wins but lose the wars. Or you will need a coach that will get the players to run a rush defense and be able to control their breakdown and have a kicking game. Its why Razor specifically asked for an exception for RM because he knows he needs a kicking 10 and why DMac was used so little in the big games.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Eddie couldn’t do his plan as the team couldn’t hold the ball long enough. It’s his plan that meant cleaners weren’t in position and that made it easy for opposition to read. Even worse the times we held it through three phases, if we hadn’t scored we kicked it back to them. His plans were garbage and nothing like what he implemented in Japan or during England’s 2019 WC campaign. They had a lot more in common with his failed plans that saw the RFU sack him.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
if we could even hold it that long And that is the problem. Eddie couldn’t do his plan as the team couldn’t hold the ball long enough. Gats stopped with Pivac’s run from everywhere game plan and revert back to smarter play of go forward or kick forward. If Wales move forward they don’t kick (like most teams) but once they aren’t going forward they kick it as they want the ball to be in the opposition half either on attack or defense. We saw in the England v NZ game in 2022 how effective Eddie’s plan was against NZ because NZ were struggling to hold the ball so when they gave up possession England could kick to the corner. Australia’s problem they had no one who could kick them into the right areas of the field (like Cooper had failed to do v Argentina or NZ allowing late scores) and the one player who could secure ruck ball got injured. So you think the Eddie systems failed (that have worked at Japan and England) but for some reason to do with Eddie even though Australia had these same issues under Chekia, Rennie and Eddie. Under Eddie England generally had a good defense they just had a terrible attack and that is why he was fired. What SRP team do the players not also fail at all the issues you highlighted. How many scores did Oz concede because the wingers were in the 15m v unable to deal with a kicking game or breakdown. Players were bad at the breakdown under Rennie and Eddie would not be able to fix that when the SR coaches couldn’t fix it with 6 months of daily training. Since the Lions brought the rush defense to test rugby it has been adapted by most teams (except Oz and NZ at T1) you need to be able to use the first two phases to break down the defense and open the game up. If you can’t hold onto the ball you are better having a good kicking game. Why don’t NZ and Oz play rush D when it is so effective (Saders do of sorts) and why do the two of them struggle the most with it, Super Rugby and it rules. Give any coach players that don’t face a style of play regularly and watch them struggle.
jeznez
Roar Guru
But why did Oz lose 40-6? Because Eddie took the team backwards. He dropped at about 10 top quality players, replaced them with players that lacked the same ability and experience. Even worse, some of them were injured. He implemented an ordinary attack plan that was simple to read. Plan A, middle narrow, then same way to edge or switch back inside. Or a 'surprise' play out the back first up. Fail to break the line in three phases (if we could even hold it that long) then kick. Way too simple vs test defences and without sufficient cleaners able to support the few options given. He also failed on his defensive structure with wingers defending from inside the 15m lines and the line being overly compressed. Double all that down with his frankly bizarre set of choices for assistants and there is very little mystery.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
But why did Oz lose 40-6. That is the key to it all. Wales got 3 tries, 6 penalties and 1 DG. In 2022 Wales also got 3 tries but also got 2 yellow cards during which time Oz scored 3 tries. Gats was able to tighten up the Welsh defense and reduce the number of cards they were getting. This could be done because he has players who can do it at club level and all the players brought into his gameplan. Before the two welsh cards in 2022 the score was 34-20 to Wales. Can you tell me what caused Wales to be able to score 6 penalties against Oz in the WC game and how Wales were able to get into those areas to win penalties in the right areas of the field. From what I can remember is was a good kicking game and having many players who could compete in the breakdown, the same plan that SA used in the final. The SA game in the RC showed how poor the Oz kicking game was.