Eddie Jones: My future as Wallabies coach is out of my hands

By SABC Sport
7th October 2023

Eddie Jones admits that the decision regarding his future as the head coach of Australia is now in the hands of others.

The former England boss has overseen a miserable Rugby World Cup campaign that produced defeats against Fiji and Wales.

Fiji need one point from their final group game against Portugal on Sunday to join Wales in the quarter-finals from Pool C.

If, as expected, Australia bow out, it would be the first time in World Cup history for them to make a pool-stage exit.

It has led to intense speculation about Jones' role, with a Rugby Australia World Cup review likely to take place in November.

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Asked during a media briefing in Saint-Etienne on Friday about wanting to stay on as head coach, Jones said: "I've signed a contract and I will do the (Rugby Australia) review and then it is up to others to decide.

"I just stand by the fact that I take full responsibility. I feel like I've given the team the opportunity to get better and, as I have repeatedly said, the results don't show that, but I think we are.

"I am not comfortable with the results, but I am comfortable with the way we've gone about this campaign, if that makes sense.

"We came in with the understanding it's a nine-month job, see what we could do and then everyone will sit down and have a look at what we've done, where we want to go and make a decision then what we need going forward.

"There will be some sort of Rugby Australia review in November, I believe, so at the end of that will be the opportunity to start moving forward."

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Jones was also asked about the need for a high performance director to be appointed in the wake of Australia's World Cup demise.

"There is a need for someone to be looking after tomorrow. That is really important," he added.

"You know, the national coach looks after today and there is a need for someone to be strategic about planning what is needed for Australian rugby to be sustainably successful.

"And that is where you need a high-performance director. What role he has with the national team is something that needs to be discussed, but someone absolutely responsible for what is happening tomorrow is vital."