Eddie Jones has broken his silence on the controversial decisions that have defined his second short -term term as a Wallabies coach – a period marked by the worst performance of the Australian Rugby World Cup.
Jones, who returned in January 2023, resigned only 10 months in a five -year agreement after the Wallabies failed to pass the stages of the pool for the first time in history. Under his direction, the team won only two of the nine games.
Speaking on the Podcast Rugby Unity with friend David Pembroke, Jones defended his decision to leave aside the veteran players Michael Hooper and the cooper of the World Cup.
“Michael Hooper injured in the first match against South Africa, had not played, was not in good shape,” said Jones.
“Quade … I made the decision that its influence on the team was not going to improve the team.
He also omitted Len Ikitau, citing injury problems, and said that too many sub-preparers would have risked the balance of the team.
Former Wallabi coach Eddie Jones defended the controversial decisions he made before the Rugby World Cup
One of the big calls was the decision to leave Michael Hooper aside who, according to Jones, was injured and sub-prepare
The veteran, the playmaker Quade Cooper was another big name to miss the selection of the World Cup
“You have to make a decision on the number of those you can keep,” he said.
Jones admitted that he had lost his composure during the infamous press conference of Sydney airport before the tournament.
“The dog is dead. I made my wife cry on the phone … I just had such a small level of tolerance at that time, “he said. “So I lost my cool, and you do it sometimes.
He has since argued that Australian rugby must revise its structure, calling it “social protection sport”.
Addressing the roar, he said: “They count on a unnatural event to support what is a bankrupt sport. He must change, mate.
Jones had been coach with 2027 in mind, planning to build a young team.
“In the end, it was a mistake, because they could not adapt fairly quickly, and it is my fault,” he admitted. “But strategically, it was the right decision.”
He remained categorical that his youngest selections were made by thinking in the long term. “Sometimes you have to suffer defeats to get lower victories on the track.”
Jones was forced to resign after his huge calls were infiltrated in the Rugby World Cup
The distraught side of young Wallabies reacts to the realization that they would not qualify in the final of the World Cup of rugby
While defending the abandoned veterans, Jones admitted that Bernard Foley, who was left out, could have been wrongly excluded. “It could have been a mistake of me … But this year, he played very well.
The former coach deplored the injuries of key players Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou, accepting some responsibility. “We were always trying to get in shape at the start of the tournament … Their two injuries were my fault because we probably pushed them too hard.
He congratulated the leadership and influence of Skelton on Tupou, describing him as “worth two players”. He added: “Skelton is a real captain”.
On Tupou, Jones insisted that the propeller could be world class. “It would be a great loss for Australia. It can be weird, “he said.
Jones revealed that his initial contract included high performance reforms that never materialized.
“If we have not obtained investment capital … I was probably not going to continue,” he said.
“I was not interested in coming back just to grope with a heavy system.”
He also discussed the infamous zoom call which fueled rumors of a job interview with Japan.
Jones praised the recruitment of former NRL star Joseph-Aaukuso suaalii and said that he would help change the fortune of wallabies
“I really had nothing from Japan before publishing my resignation … This is the story,” he said.
Asked about the Australia rugby structure, Jones pleaded for a more centralized development of players, especially at the levels of young people.
“You have to get a better talent in this age group of 13, 14, 15,” he said.
He firmly defended the acquisition of Joseph-Aaukuso Suaalii, the caller “cheap” and saying: “He will help change this team”.
Thinking about the state of Super Rugby, Jones said that the difficulties of the brumbies were due to a bad fans’ commitment and the lack of control.
“You have to play an incredible rugby and engage the community to win this race,” he said.
He identified the former Wallabies assistant Scott Wisemantel as “the best Australian rugby coach” and described his departure as “one of the greatest losses”.
For the future, Jones remains optimistic. “I have no doubt that we can do the quarter-finals, at least in 2027,” he said.
Despite the fallout, he maintains the hope of Australian rugby if he embraces the reform. “I just hope they have the courage to go doing what Hamish (McLennan) has started to do.”
