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Eddie Jones reveals how close NRL immortal came to stunning code switch
By Finn Morton
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has dropped a bombshell in a conversation with NRL guru Phil ‘Gus” Gould. In fact, it might be the biggest ‘what ifs’ in the history of Australian rugby union.
Legendary coach Jones is back in Australia ahead of this year’s World Cup in France, after replacing Dave Rennie in the Wallabies’ top job last month.
By his own admission, it was an opportunity he thought he’d “never get again.”
Jones led the Wallabies to a World Cup final in 2003, but was sacked a couple of years later following a disastrous run of form.
Two years on from the thrilling extra-time loss to Jonny Wilkinson’s England, Jones was out of job.
While the Wallabies continued to struggle, in what has since turned into two decades of lacklustre results, Jones went on to win a World Cup with the Springboks in 2007.
But the 63-year-old has revealed some stunning news in a recent interview on Stan Sport which would’ve changed Australian rugby forever.
NRL immortal Andrew Johns reportedly had a deal “done” with Australian Rugby in 2005.
“We had Andrew Johns done mate, 2005. We had him done, he was going to come,” Jones told Gould on Coach Corner.
“He would have made a hell of a difference.”
Jones also reiterated his desire to lure South Sydney Rabbitohs lock Cameron Murray to the 15-player game.
The super coach told SEN Mornings with Matt White earlier this month that the New South Wales and Australian representative would be “handy” in a Wallabies jersey.
Well, unprovoked, Jones told Gus Gould the exact same thing.
“(Billy) Slater would have been handy,” he added. “That Cameron Murray would be pretty handy at 12.”
When the Wallabies made the World Cup final 20 years ago, they had some former rugby league stars among their ranks.
Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri all played starring roles as the men in gold charged towards the final in Sydney.
“I think the history of the world shows that people like gladiators.
“Why’s the State of Origin so successful in league? Because people love seeing that. People still love seeing that, there’s still a place for it.
“Outside backs in league, if you’re a State of Origin player in rugby league and you’re an outside back, you can definitely make it in rugby.
“Matty Rogers, Wendell (Sailor), Lote Tuqiri have all shown that. Andrew Walker, what a player he was.”
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Latest Comments
There is this thing going around against Siya Kolisi where they don't want him to be known as the best national captain ever, so they strike him down in ratings permanently whenever they can. They want McCaw and reckons he is the best captain ever. I disagree.
Just like they refuse to see SA as the best team and some have even said that should the Boks win a third WC in a row, they will still not be the best team ever. Even if they win every game between now and the WC. That is some serious hate coming SA's way.
Everyone forget how the McCaw AB's intimidated refs, was always on the wrong side, played on the ground etc. Things they would never have gotten away with today. They may have a better win ratio, but SA build depth, not caring about rank inbetween WC's until this year.
They weren't as bad inbetween as people claim, because non e of their losses was big ones and they almost never faced the strongest Bok team outside of the WC, allowing countries like France and Ireland to rise to the top unopposed.
Rassie is still at it, building more depth, getting more young stars into the fold. By the time he leaves (I hope never) he will leave a very strong Bok side for the next 15- 20 years. Not everyone will play for 20 years, but each year Rassie acknowledge the young stars and get them involved and ready for international rugby.
Not everyone will make it to the WC, but those 51/52 players will compete for those spots for the WC. They will deliver their best. The future of the Boks is in very safe hands. The only thing that bothers me is Rassie's health. If he can overcome it, rugby looks dark for the rest of the rugby world. He is already the greatest coach in WR history. By the time he retires, he will be the biggest legend any sport has ever seen
Go to commentsWas it? I just brought it up in some of my posts to rub it in that the AB last year nearly put 100 on a top 6N side lol
I agree to be honest. The biggest key to me that they might be jadded was none of them had mom performances, or even as good as their last three games.
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