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Why would Eddie Jones return to Australia when he can build a dynasty with England?

England boss Eddie Jones faces the media in Beppu after announcing his quarter-final selection (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

A World Cup triumph with England would only motivate Eddie Jones to see out his contract and “build a dynasty” rather than return as Wallabies coach, according to Tim Horan.

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Jones’ side will meet South Africa in the final on Saturday, having engineered Australia’s demise in the quarter-finals before a dominant win over New Zealand in the semi-finals.

That run has led to widespread cries for Rugby Australia (RA) to prioritise Jones’ return to replace Michael Cheika as Wallabies coach.

It is understood RA have contacted Jones to gauge his interest, with the Australian currently contracted to England until 2021.

Horan said, contracted or not, a win on Saturday would give the in-demand coach plenty of reason to remain in Europe.

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“I think Australian rugby will look elsewhere,” the Wallabies’ two-time World Cup winner told Fox Sports.

“They definitely will ask Eddie Jones the question, ‘do you want to come back at some stage to Australia and can you break your contract?’

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“But you’d expect if you win this World Cup you go back to England and Eddie Jones will build this dynasty of this England team.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4L8F6VA_rY/

New Zealander David Rennie has been tipped to succeed Cheika, while RA are yet to announce the finer details of a review following the side’s quarter-final exit.

Jones’s least successful stint as an international coach came with the Wallabies, where he had a 58 per cent success rate, winning 33 of 57 games.

That tenure included taking the Wallabies to the 2003 World Cup final, he was sacked after a run of losses in 2005 and has since won a World Cup with South Africa as an assistant to Jake White.

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Jones also enjoyed a 73 per cent win rate as Japan’s head coach, including an upset victory over South Africa at the 2015 World Cup.

As England coach he has only lost nine of 49 Tests at a win rate of 80 per cent, with Horan pointing to the side’s relative youth as a decisive carrot.

“They’re still fairly young. (Maro) Itoje is in his early 20s (25), (captain) Owen Farrell about 27 (28). They’ve got a team that can potentially go on to the next World Cup,” he said.

Rassie Erasmus had plenty to say at a mid-week press conference ahead of the World Cup final:

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P
PM 32 minutes ago
Why Henry Pollock's x-factor could earn him a Lions Test start

I have been following Lions tours for the last 30 odd years and I can’t remember one feeling as flat as this one, so your damp squib comment is a fair one.


I think there are a few reasons for this;


1) The opposition isn’t that strong this tour and hasn’t generated the normal excitement and uncertainty for the tests, most people are expecting 0-3 (which has never happened in living memory before).


2) The growing discontent within the fan base at the number of “outside BIL “ born players in the squad is a growing issue. The import issue has reached saturation point with some fans and is a bit negative element to this tour (will improve as nation switching becomes harder).


3) The rugby so far hasn’t been great and the tactics to date are not very exciting. People expected more from Andy Farrell and his Lions team.


4) Lions management have scored some own goals with the selection and subsequent call ups. It should have been the best 44 players from the start of the tour but the recent call ups have been underwhelming and damaged the Lions brand for some fans.


5) This tour would have been better if they merged Australia with Argentina and the Lions played Fiji as a warm up game to give the Pacific Nations a better chance of exposure and glory to grow the game. This is the sort of innovative thinking they need to bring out the magic of the Lions brand and create an exciting experience for all.


What’s become clear is the next tour needs to be an exciting one before people forget how magical a Lions tour can feel and the Lions brand is damaged to the point of questioning why it continues. The writing is on the wall, so lets hope the Lions see it and correct some of the above by the next tour.

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P
PM 1 hour ago
Why Henry Pollock's x-factor could earn him a Lions Test start

Nick,

I am a long suffering England fan, who has had to endure watching 4 years of dull rugby, poor selections and painful defeats. Steve Borthwick talks about GPS and picks squads by numbers and then we put in a poor performance on the pitch - it’s been a consistent trend.


Something changed in the Six Nations and we totally changed our style (literally overnight) and played some really good footie, which finally felt like positive rugby for a change.


Genge has regained his pore-Covid form and is looking back to his best and is head and shoulders above Porter.


Chessum has had a good year and hasn’t played a poor International game this season.


Tom Curry was outstanding in the 6 Nations but they have been playing him at 6, wheras he is better at 7 and is lethal at the breakdown.


Tom Willis was brought into the starting team at 8 and has been one of the best England players over the last year, who should have been on this Lions tour at 8. Earl had his best game since 2020 last week - not sure 1 game warrants Lions selection over a poor combination side and he is certainly second choice for his club 7 country behind Willis.


Pollock will be a good player but like all young emerging players, he is inconsistent and can go quiet in games, which is why Curry should be the starter at 7. He brings energy to games, which is why he is good from the bench but there is an argument to say he is the 5th best England openside (Curry x2, Underhill & Earl are currently better) but will improve over the next 5 years. We just need to stop the media building him up for a fall, let him play and develop and you will see a sensational Henry Pollock for the Lions in 4 years time.


Lions will be too powerful over 80 mins, so doesn’t really matter who they pick. Just please don’t put too much hype on Pollock. His 20 mins of International rugby going into this tour were positive but the media caused a frenzy and no other player would be selected on this basis.


Let’s enjoy the rugby and give Pollock the space and time he requires.

102 Go to comments
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