SAINT-ETIENNE: Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says he is prepared to be "the fall guy" for Australia's dismal Rugby World Cup campaign.
Jones fronted reporters in Saint-Etienne on Friday ahead of Australia's final pool game against Portugal on Monday (AEST).
After back-to-back losses in France, the Wallabies need Georgia to upset Fiji on Sunday (AEST) or at least deny Fiji a winning bonus point to keep their faint quarter-final hopes alive.
Watch all the action from Rugby World Cup 2023 on the home of rugby, Stan Sport. Every match ad free, live and on demand in 4K UHD
The Wallabies have never failed to qualify for the quarter-finals in nine previous tournaments.
"If people have a problem with results, they come to me," Jones said.
"At the end of the tournament I will stand by that. If there needs to be a fall guy for the World Cup then it's obviously me. When you become a head coach of a team, you take on that responsibility."
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Jones is contracted to Rugby Australia until 2027 but reportedly interviewed for the Japan job before the World Cup.
RA chief executive Phil Waugh attended training on Thursday and before that told Wide World of Sports that he expected Jones to see out his contract.
"Yeah. Right here, right now, absolutely," Waugh said.
NEW PODCAST! Michael Atkinson, Sam Worthington and Tom Decent ask what next for Australian rugby as Eddie Jones, Angus Crichton and the game's bosses dominate the headlines
https://omny.fm/shows/rugby-world-cup-inside-line/the-uncertain-future-of-rugby-in-australia/embed?in_playlist=podcast&style=Cover"We've got a World Cup to finish, then have the appropriate review and level of independence in that review and then assess that. After it's completed then work through what the next steps look like."
Jones was again grilled about whether he had interviewed with Japan.
Q: "I think the Australian public deserve a yes or no answer, Eddie, to the question of did you interview with Japan…"
Jones: "I've just said to you mate and I've already answered that before."
Q: "You haven't given a yes or no answer."
Jones: "I've said that before."
Q: "How hard is it to give a yes or no answer?"
Jones: "I said no mate. I said no previously."
Q: Have you considered resigning after this weekend Eddie?
Jones: "I'm only worried about the Portuguese game."
Q: "Can you promise Australian rugby fans you will ride the tough times out?"
Jones: "I think I have said that before. I know you're going down that track. I'm concentrating on the Portugal game. I'm 100 per cent committed to the job and I've said that previously.
"And I know you want to keep asking and you can keep asking. I appreciate your interest. For me to make statements about the future is irrelevant."
WALLABIES (15-1): Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Izaia Perese, Lalakai Foketi, Marika Koroibete, Ben Donaldson, Tate McDermott, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, James Slipper, Dave Porecki (c), Angus Bell
Reserves: Matt Faessler, Blake Schoupp, Pone Fa'amausili, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Carter Gordon, Suliasi Vunivalu
SAINT-ETIENNE: Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says he is prepared to be "the fall guy" for Australia's dismal Rugby World Cup campaign.
Jones fronted reporters in Saint-Etienne on Friday ahead of Australia's final pool game against Portugal on Monday (AEST).
After back-to-back losses in France, the Wallabies need Georgia to upset Fiji on Sunday (AEST) or at least deny Fiji a winning bonus point to keep their faint quarter-final hopes alive.
Watch all the action from Rugby World Cup 2023 on the home of rugby, Stan Sport. Every match ad free, live and on demand in 4K UHD
The Wallabies have never failed to qualify for the quarter-finals in nine previous tournaments.
"If people have a problem with results, they come to me," Jones said.
"At the end of the tournament I will stand by that. If there needs to be a fall guy for the World Cup then it's obviously me. When you become a head coach of a team, you take on that responsibility."
READ MORE: 'A betrayal...' Test stars call for truth to come out
READ MORE: World Rugby boss clears France captain for mask
READ MORE: New Zealand's 'Gandalf' to eclipse All Blacks icon
Jones is contracted to Rugby Australia until 2027 but reportedly interviewed for the Japan job before the World Cup.
RA chief executive Phil Waugh attended training on Thursday and before that told Wide World of Sports that he expected Jones to see out his contract.
"Yeah. Right here, right now, absolutely," Waugh said.
NEW PODCAST! Michael Atkinson, Sam Worthington and Tom Decent ask what next for Australian rugby as Eddie Jones, Angus Crichton and the game's bosses dominate the headlines
https://omny.fm/shows/rugby-world-cup-inside-line/the-uncertain-future-of-rugby-in-australia/embed?in_playlist=podcast&style=Cover"We've got a World Cup to finish, then have the appropriate review and level of independence in that review and then assess that. After it's completed then work through what the next steps look like."
Jones was again grilled about whether he had interviewed with Japan.
Q: "I think the Australian public deserve a yes or no answer, Eddie, to the question of did you interview with Japan…"
Jones: "I've just said to you mate and I've already answered that before."
Q: "You haven't given a yes or no answer."
Jones: "I've said that before."
Q: "How hard is it to give a yes or no answer?"
Jones: "I said no mate. I said no previously."
Q: Have you considered resigning after this weekend Eddie?
Jones: "I'm only worried about the Portuguese game."
Q: "Can you promise Australian rugby fans you will ride the tough times out?"
Jones: "I think I have said that before. I know you're going down that track. I'm concentrating on the Portugal game. I'm 100 per cent committed to the job and I've said that previously.
"And I know you want to keep asking and you can keep asking. I appreciate your interest. For me to make statements about the future is irrelevant."
WALLABIES (15-1): Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Izaia Perese, Lalakai Foketi, Marika Koroibete, Ben Donaldson, Tate McDermott, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, James Slipper, Dave Porecki (c), Angus Bell
Reserves: Matt Faessler, Blake Schoupp, Pone Fa'amausili, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Carter Gordon, Suliasi Vunivalu
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