TOKYO: Eddie Jones’ Wallabies betrayal is complete.
Jones was confirmed as Japan’s coach after two interviews and a board ratification on Wednesday night and 24 hours later addressed a packed media conference as head coach, sitting alongside his friend of almost 30 years – Japan Rugby Football Union chief Masato Tsuchida.
Jones denied once again on Thursday that he formally interviewed with Japan before the World Cup, adding his conscience was clear. Japan Rugby officials explained away a discussion with Jones before the World Cup as meeting where he was asked to help the recruitment company find the right candidate.
Jones clearly didn’t look too far in coming up with a contender.
“I feel terrible about the results of Australia because I wanted to go back and change Australia. But I don’t feel any guilt at all about this process,” Jones said when asked about reports he held a Zoom job interview.
“I didn’t do an interview before the World Cup. I was asked by the recruitment agency to share my experiences with them on Japan.
“Some people might have construed that as an interview. It certainly wasn’t an interview.
“The first interview I had with Japan was in December and that’s the only interview I’ve had.
“Apologise to Australian fans? Mate, I gave everything I could for that short period and it wasn’t good enough. I had a plan of what we needed to do and we weren’t able to do that. Rugby Australia weren’t able to support that so I decided to move on.
“I wish Australia all the best.”
Japan Rugby CEO Kensuke Iwabuchi said he could confirm a discussion in October between the recruitment company and Jones “because they wanted to ask him about the knowledge he had about Japan. He was a source to search for the best candidate – that’s why we contacted him.”
Iwabuchi was asked by the SMH why the Zoom meeting with Jones was labelled “first round interview with the JRFU.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” responded Iwabuchi. “I told you we had a conversation with Eddie Jones and the recruitment company to get information.”
The Jones downfall has been spectacular. From being cheered in the stands at Super Rugby, Jones has had his integrity questioned by Phil Waugh and been accused of being a liar by huge sections of the Australian public.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I can’t control their opinions. The only thing I can control is what I did. It sits well with me. I don’t have a problem with it. If people feel like that that’s their judgment. I can’t control that,” said Jones of the epithets.
He said he wasn’t sure what Australians who doubted him “need to believe.”
Jones said he “very honoured and privileged to be announced today” as Japan’s head coach in an opening statement.
“To be part of the push for Japan, the top four in the world is an exciting opportunity.
“I want to honour the past with a Japanese team that has real identity and has a point of difference – and give the Japanese people a team they can be proud of.”
While Jones fielded a dozen questions – including from The Roar and The Sydney Morning Herald – the majority were from local reporters keen for his take on how he will help them rise the ranking.
Jones did briefly address his messy departure from Australia.
“With Australia, I signed for five years. I had a plan to take them to two World Cups. But there were things that needed to happen in Australia to change the system that I agreed with the chairman [Hamish McLennan] on the plan of what we were going to do,” said Jones.
“To do that they needed finances to change the system. After one year there was a break in my contract with the Australian rugby union as to whether they could fulfill those commitments.
“I felt without them being able to it would be hard for me to develop the talent in Australia to its fullest extent and I decided then that I wanted to move on.”
Wherever Eddie goes he is box office and his announcement press conference, at Tokyo’s Japan Sport Olympic Square was attended by more than 100 reporters and camera operators.
When Jones returned to Australia after being dumped by England he spoke emotionally about his pride in representing Australia.
The fall from grace has been rapid and brutal and Sonny Bill Williams summed up the feeling of many in Australian rugby today when he said: “I could never believe in someone that I knew was pretty much full of crap. Japanese culture is all built on respect, loyalty, things that he’s shown that he’s not about.”
Jones is likely to get an easier ride in Japan which remains a second tier nation. His 2-7 record in his abominable Australian return saw the Wallabies slip to ninth in the world rankings.
The results were bad enough, but the revelation on the eve of the Wales debacle at the World Cup that he had reportedly interviewed for the Japan job – which he denied upwards of 14 times – meant many Australian rugby fans will always consider him a traitor who had betrayed the young players he put his faith in.
The shockwaves of Jones failed comeback will resonate in Australian rugby for some time. Players have spoken of their confusion at his approach. For most there will be a chance of recovery – but others, like McLennan, have been torched by standing too close to him.
Japan national team new head coach Eddie Jones attends a press conference at Japan Olympic Square on December 14, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)
“I think Taniela [Tupou] said it as well, when you’re right in, you fully believe it because Eddie Jones is telling you, a guy who’s had so much success in World Cups. We believed in it,” White told The Roar.
“But there was an element that you knew it was a bit of an experiment because we were doing, and he was saying, something that no one else had done in the way we were trying to play.
“You kind of knew that if the rest of the world was doing it a different way, maybe there was a fair element of risk in what we were trying to do.
“There were glimpses of it [working] but after playing it a fair few times, we started to figure out it was not quite working. We were in the process of fixing it, but it was all too little, too late.”
Tony
Roar Guru
Brilliant! :happy:
Lichtfield
Roar Rookie
Close, but no cigar Tony.
Lichtfield
Roar Rookie
Is it possible that, at that point in time, he was still confident that the Private Equity deals would be done to fund his intended programme with the Wallabies. So, he just helped the recruiters set up the process and then, only after the RWC failures and the failure of the PE and resistance to a more centralised model occurred, that he then threw his hat in the ring for Japan? I think it's possible that it happened that way, but maybe not too likely. He did seem to have that slip in the leadup where he only talked about doing 2023. I think it's possible that McLennan was so keen to get him that, when he was sacked from England, that McLennan proposed a two part contract. Come work for us, have a crack at getting the RWC23 with us this year, and, in the meantime, we'll get all the stuff underpinning the plans for the BIL and the RWC27. So, for Jones, who had set himself to coach with England at RWC23 he still gets a chance to go and conceivably an option to have another decent crack at the next RWC. So why wouldn't he take it.
Lichtfield
Roar Rookie
I get that people are upset that the experiment didn't work and also that he appeared to play the media (and the fans) at the least or lie if you like. That is disappointing. However, I don't so much get the lingering hatred. I mean, is anyone that thinks the whole thing was a massive failure (maybe 90% of us), disappointed that he isn't sticking around for the next 4 years on 1 million bucks plus a season? We should be glad that Japan offered him a job shouldn't we? Regardless of whether it was a betrayal or not, I think we should be glad that it's over and preparing to make sure we get a more suitable coach this time.
Tony Harper
Editor
Whatever you reckon.
Rolando
Roar Rookie
Sure but Waugh is actually saying that, “I took him at his word” and “we want to be a team of integrity”.. that takes the coach at his word. It doesn’t mean Waugh is questioning EJ’s integrity and he didn’t say that he was. He’s just framing how he wants things to work. Leadership stuff.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Thats exactly why I have so appreciated this site ..From an old soldier ( and incidentally I am ....Not out of choice I might add ) ... I totally get what Thucydides and of course you are saying ..Cant buy this stuff ...Our war always better in hindsight than others...Its so bizarre .. ..
cs
Roar Guru
Betrayal is a very strong word . It evokes emotion like few other words do True enough JN, and I'm sure that's why the first response of most earthlings is to avoid the charge by laughing at the very suggestion. It's sure been lively. But as a veteran of almost 10 years in the crowd, I can recall explosions so hot I've left the place to cool down, and they didn't even involve me. If you'll forgive some pretentiousness, Thucydides once observed that people: are apt to think that the war in which they are fighting is the greatest of all wars and, when it is over, to relapse again into their admiration of the past. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to some rugby in the new year.
whistleblower (retired)
Roar Rookie
The SMH - give me a break. The SMH has just three capable, unbiased and objective journalists; Hartcher, Gittins and Bartholomeuz - none of them have anything to do with rugby as far as I know. Payten maybe showing signs of being objective; Decent, I no longer bother to read his articles - I am sure he is heartbroken lol
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Tony I effing hope so! Brings ACDC to mind also :laughing:
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
What is without doubt is that Jones attended a Zoom meeting which was titled "first round interview with JRFU"; the meeting convened by the recruitment consultants. Given the consultants have offices in Tokyo and Sydney, I would suggest there was a leak. SMH has certainly stuck to their guns about the meeting being "first round interview". Certainly it passes the reasonable person test. Further, there are no noises about defamation, notwithstanding the terrible slug to his reputation Jones has taken. Throwing dirt in the direction of journalists does you no credit.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Betrayal is a very strong word . It evokes emotion like few other words do ..During war time it can and usually ends up with a firing squad :shocked: ...During my time here on The Roar about 6 or 7 years I think Ive never seen quite the same conflicting vitriolic responses both from authors or commentors ..Nope not during Izzygate , Raelenegate , sandpapergate or any other gate ...I've been critical of Eddie mostly because I thought he was less than a decent person in his dealings and interactions.. ..But its time to move on ...For me at least ..I wish Japan well , I wish The Wallabies well....At least Eddie exposed the cracks that have been there for some time ..I look forward to going to watch The Wallabies at Ellispark or Loftus with the same old trepidation I used to have but haven't for a while now . A weak Australia simply adds ammunition to those calling for Boks to join the 6 Nations which I do not want to happen ..How boring .. ..Bring it on ...
whistleblower (retired)
Roar Rookie
In the Jones scenario as a “consultant”, he would be in the role of a sounder-out. Certainly not, as I understand it. He was contacted by a ‘consultant’ and asked to suggest possible candidates for the role in Japan. How the consultant labelled the contact “first round interview with JRFU” has nothing to do with Jones. Of those five sets of interviews,……</em My only involvement was to give my opinion of the capabilities of the prospective interviewees – absolutely nothing further. He did something quite different to what you describe. That is what people are having thrust down their throats without, as far as I can see, any compelling evidence; only speculation by headline hunters masquerading as journalists. Many seem to think I have a barrow to push for Jones, I don’t. But I do not like to see someone hung out by innuendo; the only people who know exactly what happened are Jones and the consultant and neither has provided any evidence to substantiate the allegations being bandied about. The one thing that is clear is that many choose to accept a different unsubstantiated narrative than what I, and others, choose to believe
KTinHK
Roar Pro
And Marky Mark had a meeting with the Roosters before the World Cup….
Utiku Old Boy
Roar Rookie
Exactly RO. Being upfront and explaining the nature of the conversation that took place would have not raised any suspicions - back then. Coming up with that explanation months after the fact and after umpteen denials that it was an exploratory discussion about him taking a coaching role with Japan, just smacks of self-serving, lying and shiftiness by both Jones and Japan Rugby. Seems like they are destined for each other and Rugby Australia well rid of the little rat.
Tony Harper
Editor
“As I said back at the time, I took Eddie on his word,” Waugh said. “We want to be a game of integrity and a team of integrity, and we took Eddie on his word.”
Jacko
Roar Rookie
No sorry thats very wrong. He not only failed as a coach but he publicly attacked his opposition, he bagged out his own players publicly, He attacked the press, he lied about his future aims and he let his ego make decisions his intelegence should never have made. Altho RA has many issues it needs to deal with none of Eddie's actions were a result of any of RAs policies or failures. Eddie was given every backing he asked for and still thought Aus rugby was his play pen. Making a WC semi v failing to make it out of the pool is not the same outcome. Upsetting almost every media person showing the slightest interest in rugby at a time of a wc is not the "same outcome". Jones not only failed at his core role of coach but he failed in every other area of the job too.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
May I take your circumstances and enlarge on them in regard to Eddie Jones situation? >I attended four first round interviews undoubtedly precipitated by my being sounded out for head hunters by others (Congratulations by the way). You were an interviewee "sounded out by others". In the Jones scenario as a "consultant", he would be in the role of a sounder-out. Let's however use "consultant" as a synonym. That consultant appeared at a meeting devoted to himself; that meeting was titled "first round interview with JRFU". >at least five of the individuals that head hunters asked for my opinion, of the capabilities of an individual, attended first round interviews. Of those five sets of interviews, in any of them were you also involved in the interviewing process to the extent where you also attended a meeting titled "first round interview" and that interview involved just yourself, the employer, and the recruitment agency? The process of head-hunting is well known. Your describe it clearly. But that process is not what Jones did. He did something quite different to what you describe.
Coker
Roar Rookie
Yes Jacko, we know Rennie is a former Chiefs coach...