In July last year, a Wallabies fan standing at the picket fence at the front of the SCG Members Stand called then England coach Eddie Jones a “traitor”.
Jones, an angry ant at the best of times, fired up and charged towards him.
“What did you say?!” Jones asked. “What did you say? Come here and say it. Come here and say it. Come here and say it.”
Translation: jump the fence, you cowardly fool, and let this 62-year-old show you what’s what.
After the Wallabies’ record 40-6 loss to Wales on Monday morning – a result that effectively ends their World Cup campaign in the pool stage – Jones’s loyalty was again being called into question.
On the morning of the match, this masthead revealed that Jones had been interviewed by Japanese rugby officials about becoming their national head coach from next year, a role he has held before, including for the 2015 World Cup.
Rob Valetini and the Wallabies digest the record loss to Wales.Credit: AP
Almost every story in the sporting wash cycle these days is considered a bombshell revelation but this, oh lordy lord, really is a serious bombshell revelation.
In the post-match media conference, Jones had the perfect opportunity to shut down the story that was broken by my colleague Tom Decent.
Jones has revelled in taking down rugby reporters during his turbulent nine months in charge of the Wallabies, most infamously at Sydney airport before the team left for the World Cup.
But instead of going Defcon 1, as he normally does in these situations, Jones batted away questions from Decent in the aftermath of Australia’s worst defeat to Wales and worst defeat against any team at a World Cup.
“Do you have a second interview lined up with JRFU?” Decent asked.
“I said I don’t know what you’re talking about, mate,” Jones replied.
“Can you give Wallabies fans a 100 per cent commitment you will not be coach of Japan next year?”
“I have committed to coach Australia.”
“Next year?”
Eddie Jones fronts media after the defeat to Wales.Credit: Getty
“I have committed to coach Australia.”
The ball sails through to the keeper and that’s the end of the over …
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan must feel like the loneliest man in Australian sport right now.
He appears to be either off the pace or in denial about Jones’ meeting with Japan officials, which furthers suspicions he and Jones are no longer on the best terms.
If McLennan doesn’t have the stomach to move Jones on, how could he ever trust him again? How could he go into the next four-year cycle heading into the 2027 World Cup in Australia feeling safe about Jones staying the course?
He cannot. And while plenty might feel a sense of betrayal over Jones’ actions, nobody should feel more wounded than the chairman.
In December, McLennan was beating his chest at Christmas parties that he was about to entice Jones back to the Wallabies.
Jones, who had been sacked by England, gobbled up a five-year offer. His appointment was announced in January, and it gave Australian rugby fans something they hadn’t felt in many years – hope.
His predecessor, New Zealander Dave Rennie, had achieved mediocre results and did very little to promote the game.
Jones was going to insert the enema this struggling code so desperately needed. Instead, he has overseen a slow-moving car crash.
Now here was Eddie – eccentric, passionate, Australian, a Randwick Old Boy – ready to turn it all around. He was going to insert the enema this struggling code so desperately needed, right?
Instead, he has overseen a slow-moving car crash that sped up as soon as the Wallabies arrived in France for the World Cup.
Within months of Jones’ appointment, speculation cranked up about him not seeing out his five-year deal. Many felt he would do the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour and that would be enough.
His weird, cantankerous public commentary hasn’t brought the stability that rugby union in this country so desperately seeks. Forget about the results: the performances haven’t, in any way, pointed to better days.
In May, he told the Evening Standard Podcast: “I’m only coaching ’til this World Cup. I’ve signed [until the end of 2027], but as I’ve made the mistake before, I’ve stayed too long. So we win the World Cup, it will be time to go. If we lose the World Cup, it will be time to go.”
It took days for those on the rugby round to clarify what he was talking about and, even then, it was barely a denial that he would only be here for a year.
Around the same time, McLennan was taking great delight in needling rugby league after luring Joseph Suaalii from the Roosters. The tired “NRL hit list” stories about who would be rugby’s next target were rolled out.
Rugby doesn’t need to win the public relations battle – it needs to win the battle for survival.
St Joseph’s whizkid Max Jorgensen is signed to rugby until the end of next year. He is the future face of the game.
But after being thrown to the proverbial wolves at this tournament – ending in a broken leg suffered in training – it wouldn’t surprise if he starts looking at the grass on the other side of the fence. On the other side of that fence is Roosters chairman Nick Politis, keen to secure him after losing Suaalii.
Rugby has been having an existential crisis for more than a decade, but now more pointed questions can be asked.
Rugby trumpeted the signing of Joseph Suaalii from the Roosters.Credit: Getty
For instance, what were the Wallabies thinking when they chose to go for a lineout instead of an easy penalty goal in the first half?
Instead of heaping pressure on the Welsh, having dominated possession and field position for much of the half, they botched the line-out, gifted Wales possession and the play quickly moved downfield. It was the turning point of the match.
“Why don’t we take that kick?” former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper asked in commentary for Stan Sport.
Of course, Jones controversially overlooked Hooper for this tournament, persisting with a “youth policy”.
As it stands on this bleak Monday after the night before, Australian rugby needs more leaders like Hooper and less of Eddie Jones.
The Wallabies need a coach – not an international man of mystery looking for a quick exit.
Watch all the action from Rugby World Cup 2023 on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Every match streaming ad-free, live and in 4K UHD with replays, mini matches and highlights available on demand.
