Eddie Jones sets the record straight. The coach of Australia, announced by rumors as leaving for Japan to occupy the same position, denied on Tuesday any desire to leave, affirming his “attachment” to Australian rugby, despite the catastrophic performance of the Wallabies during the World Cup. “I’m staying. I have always been attached to Australian rugby and I want to leave it in a better position,” Eddie Jones said at a press conference.
Appointed last January to replace New Zealander Dave Rennie, the former England and Japan coach was welcomed as a savior for his return to the helm of Australia, which he had already led from 2001 to 2005 , notably leading the Wallabies to the 2003 World Cup final, lost to England.
But since then, Australia has lost seven of the nine matches he managed, notably being pitifully eliminated from the World Cup organized in France in the group stage, its worst result in the history of the competition.
Asked if he would still be in charge of the Wallabies at the next World Cup, organized in 2027 in Australia, Jones admitted that he knew nothing. “It’s not my decision. I don’t control these things, all I do is coach. We are in the process of taking stock, we will see what happens when it is completed.”
According to an Australian newspaper, Jones had been auditioned even before the start of the French World Cup to take the position of coach of the Japanese “Brave Blossoms”, which he had already managed between 2012 and 2015, information which Jones had immediately denied .
“I haven’t spoken to anyone,” he repeated Tuesday. “Where do these rumors come from? I don’t know, it’s up to you to tell me.”
Jones, appointed to restore color before the 2027 World Cup organized at home for a double world champion selection (1991, 1999) but entangled in sporting and financial difficulties, also returned to the poor performance of his team in France.
“The results at the World Cup were not what we hoped for, but I still think I made the right decision,” argued the 63-year-old technician, who had notably been criticized for having taken to France players with little international experience. “Everyone has their own opinion, right? My choice is to rely on youth, and I stick to it,” he added.
