Amid allegations of defection and distrust, two rugby legends have implored Eddie Jones to give fans an answer about his future with the Wallabies.
Before their 40-6 loss to Wales, the Sydney Morning Herald revealed Jones had been interviewed for the top coaching job with the Japan Rugby Football Union.
After that match, Jones said he was "committed to coaching Australia" and when asked if that extended beyond 2023 he repeated the same answer.
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
Attempts to get clarity were shut down by the press conference moderator before Jones began to bristle at the line of questioning.
That's left the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Tim Horan wondering what the future looks like for the Wallabies with or without Jones.
With their 34-14 win over Portugal in their final pool match and a slim chance that they make it through to the quarter-finals, Australian rugby fans may have seen the last of Jones.
AS IT HAPPENED: Wallabies vs Portugal in Rugby World Cup clash
READ MORE: France given huge boost of hope for World Cup win
READ MORE: 'We didn't get it': Walters' heartbreaking admission
"I think the big call now after this Rugby World Cup, and we're not going to know for another seven days or so, is with Eddie Jones. Does Eddie Jones actually really want to coach the Wallabies? He's got to put his hand up," said Horan on Stan Sport's coverage.
"It won't happen this week because they're still in the World Cup – but in seven or eight days' time or maybe a little bit longer, he's got to reach out and say to Rugby Australia 'Yes, I want to be part of this team. Yes, I want to take this young group of players through to the next two or four years'.
"You look at what happened in 2015 when England got bundled out in their home World Cup, and then Eddie Jones takes over that team and gets them through to a Rugby World Cup final four years later," he added.
"Eddie Jones has got to put his hand up. The reviews will come for the Rugby World Cup, but the reviews will come for rugby in Australia as well."
NEW PODCAST! Michael Atkinson, Sam Worthington and Tom Decent review Australia's rollercoaster win over Portugal and the strange state of affairs at the Rugby World Cup in France
https://omny.fm/shows/rugby-world-cup-inside-line/wallabies-praying-for-a-miracle/embed?in_playlist=podcast&style=CoverWilliams was unequivocal in his take – pushing for Jones to come clean on the rampant rumours that he was interviewed by the Japan RFU.
In that fiery press conference after the loss to Wales, Jones said "I don't know what you're talking about" when asked about the job interview.
"I look at it like a glass half full always, but I look at it as what could have been," said Williams.
"These guys, if this is their last game – to me, they should be in the quarter-finals with the squad that they have.
"Rightly so, questions need to be asked if they don't make it to the quarters from an infrastructure view all the way down to a coaching point of view.
"If he wants to stay, we need to know, 'Bro, did you go and have that meeting? Did you have one foot out and one foot in?' The players, the fans – not me at all – deserve that at least."
The Wallabies are at long odds to make the quarter-finals.
Their hopes hinge on Fiji being beaten handsomely by Portugal.
Fiji can still lose and make it through to the quarter-finals with a losing bonus point.
Amid allegations of defection and distrust, two rugby legends have implored Eddie Jones to give fans an answer about his future with the Wallabies.
Before their 40-6 loss to Wales, the Sydney Morning Herald revealed Jones had been interviewed for the top coaching job with the Japan Rugby Football Union.
After that match, Jones said he was "committed to coaching Australia" and when asked if that extended beyond 2023 he repeated the same answer.
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
Attempts to get clarity were shut down by the press conference moderator before Jones began to bristle at the line of questioning.
That's left the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Tim Horan wondering what the future looks like for the Wallabies with or without Jones.
With their 34-14 win over Portugal in their final pool match and a slim chance that they make it through to the quarter-finals, Australian rugby fans may have seen the last of Jones.
AS IT HAPPENED: Wallabies vs Portugal in Rugby World Cup clash
READ MORE: France given huge boost of hope for World Cup win
READ MORE: 'We didn't get it': Walters' heartbreaking admission
"I think the big call now after this Rugby World Cup, and we're not going to know for another seven days or so, is with Eddie Jones. Does Eddie Jones actually really want to coach the Wallabies? He's got to put his hand up," said Horan on Stan Sport's coverage.
"It won't happen this week because they're still in the World Cup – but in seven or eight days' time or maybe a little bit longer, he's got to reach out and say to Rugby Australia 'Yes, I want to be part of this team. Yes, I want to take this young group of players through to the next two or four years'.
"You look at what happened in 2015 when England got bundled out in their home World Cup, and then Eddie Jones takes over that team and gets them through to a Rugby World Cup final four years later," he added.
"Eddie Jones has got to put his hand up. The reviews will come for the Rugby World Cup, but the reviews will come for rugby in Australia as well."
NEW PODCAST! Michael Atkinson, Sam Worthington and Tom Decent review Australia's rollercoaster win over Portugal and the strange state of affairs at the Rugby World Cup in France
https://omny.fm/shows/rugby-world-cup-inside-line/wallabies-praying-for-a-miracle/embed?in_playlist=podcast&style=CoverWilliams was unequivocal in his take – pushing for Jones to come clean on the rampant rumours that he was interviewed by the Japan RFU.
In that fiery press conference after the loss to Wales, Jones said "I don't know what you're talking about" when asked about the job interview.
"I look at it like a glass half full always, but I look at it as what could have been," said Williams.
"These guys, if this is their last game – to me, they should be in the quarter-finals with the squad that they have.
"Rightly so, questions need to be asked if they don't make it to the quarters from an infrastructure view all the way down to a coaching point of view.
"If he wants to stay, we need to know, 'Bro, did you go and have that meeting? Did you have one foot out and one foot in?' The players, the fans – not me at all – deserve that at least."
The Wallabies are at long odds to make the quarter-finals.
Their hopes hinge on Fiji being beaten handsomely by Portugal.
Fiji can still lose and make it through to the quarter-finals with a losing bonus point.
https://ift.tt/3ANM5RK//
No comments:
Post a Comment