Eddie Jones returns as Wallabies coach after 18 years.
Rugby Australia has made a massive call by sacking Dave Rennie and appointing Eddie Jones as Head Coach of the Wallabies on a five-year contract. This is a gigantic gamble, as the 2023 Rugby World Cup is just eight months out.
Jones was a free agent for less than a month. England’s Governing body, the Rugby Football Union, made the call to fire Jones on 6 December. A seven-year relationship that came to an end thanks to an average 2022 season.
Showing your head coach the door less than a year out from the most important tournament on the Rugby calendar shows guts. however, in no world was that the correct call.
One of the best in the Business
Jones has one of the best records at the RWC. He has a gold medal, two silver medals as a head coach, a win record second to none, and let us not forget the Brighton miracle.
Rugby Australia expects a smooth transition
It’s been 18 years since Jones coached the Wallabies. However, settling in and bringing his squad together and on the same page should be a cakewalk.
Rugby Australia chairperson Hamish McLennan said that Jones has a “deep understanding” of rugby Down Under, and he will take the team to the “next level”.
“Eddie instinctively understands the Australian way of playing rugby – this represents an opportunity to secure a coach of immense expertise and experience at the biggest competitions, and we did not want to miss it.”
Rugby Australia chair, Hamish McLennan seated in the Sydney Harbour.
“It is a major coup for Australian rugby to have the best coach in the world return home to coach the iconic Wallabies and to oversee the Wallaroos program”
England and Australia will meet in RWC knockouts
England and Australia are on a collision course in France. Should both keep a perfect record throughout, they will meet in the semifinal. If one remains unbeaten in the pool stages, and the other loses a game, a quarterfinal bout will be on the cards.
Third time lucky?
Eddie Jones will have a second bite at the RWC cherry with his home nation, after leading the side from 2001 to 2005. The 62-year-old and his Wallabies came close to retaining the William Webb Ellis Trophy in 2003. However, they had to settle for silver, thanks to a famous Jonny Wilkinson drop goal.
Jones’s second World Cup final defeat came in the 2019 edition in Japan. This time, he coached the nation that handed him the loss on home soil in 2003. However, Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks would come up on top. 32-12.
The 2023 Men’s Rugby World Cup gets underway on 8 September 2023.
Ziaan is an unapologetically biased supporter of the Springboks, Stormers, and the Proteas. He was born with a rugby ball in his hand and is still an active sportsman.
He’s an all-around cricket talent, who represents the WP Premier League club, Brackenfell CC. Ziaan also shares his expertise on the game of cricket on Pitch Visions coverage of domestic cricket.
