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Critics bail in on Eddie Jones after latest Wallabies flop

Australia's coach Eddie Jones (L) chats to player Carter Gordon (R) before the Rugby Championship 2023 and Bledisloe Cup Test match between Australia and New Zealand at the MCG in Melbourne on July 29, 2023. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE-- (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones finds himself under intense scrutiny as his Australian team endured a nightmare Bledisloe Cup clash at the MCG, resulting in their third consecutive defeat under his charge.

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The largest Aussie rugby union crowd in over two decades turned up with high hopes, but the Wallabies left their fans disappointed, going down 38-7 to the dominant All Blacks.

The Wallabies’ woes began in the first half, as two late tries from New Zealand gave them a 19-7 advantage at the break. However, the real damage came in the second half when the visitors added three more tries in a blistering eight-minute period, putting the game firmly out of Australia’s reach.

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Critics have been quick to voice their concerns about the Wallabies’ performances under Jones. The team’s defensive frailties and disciplinary issues have been a cause for alarm for some. Sloppy defence and poor discipline once again cost them dearly against the All Blacks, leaving the coaching staff with much to address.

The night was made even more devastating for the Wallabies as star prop Allan Alaalatoa suffered a ruptured Achilles and was stretchered off the field in the 37th minute. This injury rules him out of the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France, dealing a significant blow to the team’s prospects.

Amidst the disappointment, former players and pundits have not held back in their criticism of Jones. Andy Goode, the former England flyhalf stated that the former England boss has taken the Wallabies backwards at an alarming rate, and questioned the decision to sack previous coach Dave Rennie.

“Eddie Jones has taken the Wallabies backwards quicker than I used to run to the buffet! Whoever sacked Dave Rennie at Australian Rugby needs sacking for being inept at their job!” The outspoken RugbyPass columnist said that Rennie had been ‘replaced by a clown’.

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Former Scotland flyhalf Ruaridh Jackson sarcastically suggested: “Looks like Australia’s decision to get rid of Rennie for Eddie Jones is going well!”

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Ben Darwin, a former Wallabies prop, expressed his concern prior to the game by comparing the team’s situation to a bride trying to organize a wedding in a moving car. “It feels like Eddie Jones is the bride trying to organise a wedding in the car on the way to the wedding.”

Martin Gillingham highlighted the team’s lacklustre display, using their shirt sponsor as a metaphor for their softness on the field. He directly questioned Eddie Jones on Twitter, mockingly demanding answers for the team’s underwhelming showing. “Now the Wallabies have melted. They’re as soft as the centre of a Cadbury Crème Egg. Rarely has a rugby team’s shirt sponsor been so apt. Eddie Jones, what do you have to say about this performance …mate?”

Earlier in the week former Wallabies coach John Connolly tore into Jones in an interview with The Telegraph. “How did we end up with Eddie again? He is full of it. He talks a great game but plays a terrible one… He is a charlatan, he is a failed selector. He was the captain’s pick by the chairman who just came into the job.”

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In stark contrast to the Wallabies’ struggles, the All Blacks continue to assert their dominance, remaining unbeaten and securing the Rugby Championship with their commanding performance.

As the pressure mounts on Eddie Jones, he faces the daunting task of reviving the Wallabies’ fortunes and regain their footing in the international rugby arena. If he doesn’t a harrowing Rugby World Cup beckons for the beleaguered Wallabies.

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Comments

35 Comments
d
dk 723 days ago

South Africa were looking pretty bad before the last World Cup and went on to win it. Yes, Aussie are looking worse than SA did but are on the soft side of the draw and still have a host of world class players. Jones (and his teams) always have one good game in them at a World Cup. I'm going to hold off calling him a failure til after the Cup. Just in case that good game knocks us out again.

M
Mike 723 days ago

What would the God of Rugby William Webb Ellis think of Eddie? His total lack of respect for the opposition and their country. That's the question. He's treating it like some political football. Eddie Jones a Financial Genius!!

O
OJohn 723 days ago

Do kiwis respect Australian rugby ? Cue the abuse ......

B
Bob Marler 724 days ago

“It feels like Eddie Jones is the bride trying to organise a wedding in the car on the way to the wedding.”


- Sums things up well.

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Nigel 724 days ago

Four in-form teams for the World Cup..and Australia and England aren't one of them..

L
Laing 724 days ago

Looking back over recent performances, you'd have to say only the AB's & perhaps the 'Boks are in form! I was going to say look at Ireland or France's ups & downs, but just about everyone has come from nowhere to turn in a brilliant performance only to be clobbered the next time by a team they were favoured to beat. That's not to overlook the AB's couple of hidings, but their performance generally is pretty predictable.

The Aussie's have County Cricket at the same sort of level we have Provincial Rugby: it leads to them being well resourced for up & coming cricket players, as we are well resourced for up & coming football players. I'm buggered if I'd like Eddie Jones's job just as I wouldn't like to be the NZ Cricket Team Coach. Both tasks are a bit like trying to paddle up Schitt Creek in a barbed wire canoe after being given a teaspoon for a paddle!

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Nigel 724 days ago

A coach, in whatever sport, is judged on his team's results...Simples...

J
Johan 724 days ago

I'm no EJ fan but I don't think he is a charlatan. A bigot perhaps. He has a shared world cup and 2 finals under his belt. No mean feat. What nobody talks about is how utter uselessss the Australian team and talent are. Get rid of the Pacific rim and league dropouts and go back to good old Australian rugby.

C
CO 724 days ago

He doesn't have a shared world cup, he did some assisting of the 2007 springboks but wasn't a co coach

J
JB 724 days ago

Coaches just like players have an expiry date

T
Tk 724 days ago

The bottom line is that Australians can't stand seeing a Kiwi running their team. Robbie Deans and Dave Rennie were both highly capable coaches on a fools errand.

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OJohn 724 days ago

True and false. They were utterly hopeless.

J
JW 725 days ago

Really rough ride for Aussie and not getting any easier now.

O
OJohn 724 days ago

Eddie is going great. The Wallabies are improving dramatically each game. It just shows just how hopeless and disastrous 38% Rennie was.

W
Willie 725 days ago

Always liked John Connolly's no-nonsense approach and his summary of Jones is spot on.

Hopefully, this result will spell the end of Jones' puerile comments until he muddles through the easy side of the World Cup draw.

O
OJohn 724 days ago

Unlikely, like me he can see the Wallabies are making dramatic improvements each game. Coming off a low 38% Rennie base.

b
by George! 725 days ago

I think Eddie might have sold Hamish McLennan and the RA a Monorail, like they have in Springfield and Twickers. Doh! 😅

U
Utiku Old Boy 725 days ago

EJ brings criticism on himself by his bragging. His bluff also hides the fact he is not a great coach nor selector although he always threatens great damage to the opposition before a game. Rennie getting back-stabbed when he was building something may be due to the RA Chair not liking a "non-Aussie" in charge of the team but if EJ is the solution, non-Aussies look like winner, winner chicken dinner!

J
Jérémie 725 days ago

Two rwc finals, highest victory rates with England...

L
Laing 725 days ago

Can't argue with that.

Anyone facing the All Blacks has a daunting task on their hands, but Jones does appear to have made quite a hash of his job. They (the Wallabies) do seem to have performed better under Rennie who did appear to have a better handle on what might work against the All Blacks.

Currently beating the All Blacks is a bit like trying to build a house with a hacksaw and a tack hammer: it's possible, but it's going to take a while.

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