Wallabies coach denies link to Japan job
“We get judged by our results, mate. I chose to be coach. We know we get judged by our results…all I can do is coach as well as I can,” Jones said.
Wednesday 18 October 2023 | 01:51
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has emphatically denied reports he is set to take up a position with Japan and doubled down on his decision to pick youth over experience for this year’s Rugby World Cup.
Fronting the media in Sydney for the first time since the Sydney Morning Herald revealed Jones was secretly interviewed by Japanese rugby over Zoom just days before the Wallabies’ final warm-up match, he again denied any discussions had taken place.
“I haven’t been speaking to anyone, mate,” said Jones when questioned about the interview with Japan.
Related stories
When asked about the Wallabies disastrous World Cup campaign, where they suffered back-to-back losses to Fiji and Wales that left them needing a miracle to progress, Jones shut down suggestions he had made a mistake picking such an inexperienced team.
“I stand by the decisions I made, and I think we have left Australian rugby in a better position,” Jones said.
“I came into the Wallabies [with] short preparation time, I had to make a quick decision on what we do … I made a decision we’ve got to go with youth. That’s the best [decision] for Australia moving forward, and I still think I made the right decision there.”
“I think those players, we’ve got a lot of good young players there who are going to benefit from that experience at a World Cup … and go onto the 2027 World Cup.”
“Most of them showed during that World Cup that they’ve got enough to go forward and be very good players for Australia … that’s the most positive thing.”
An independent review will now be conducted into the Wallabies’ World Cup campaign, looking at factors such as how well prepared the team was and whether they maximised the resources they had.
Asked whether he would consider quitting if the Wallabies didn’t improve, Jones said he took the job knowing it wouldn’t be easy.
“We get judged by our results, mate. I chose to be coach. We know we get judged by our results…all I can do is coach as well as I can,” Jones said.
“There are other people who make those judgments (whether he’ll be coach), not me.” Stuff
Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj
