Defiant Eddie Jones to remain Wallabies coach

Eddie Jones has again denied reports of a return to Japan, saying he fully intends to remain Wallabies coach until the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Eddie Jones remains committed to Australian rugby and says his real intention is to coach the Wallabies to the home World Cup in 2027.

Rumors are rife that Jones will leave his post following Australia’s dismal campaign in France, where the Wallabies failed to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time in 10 editions of the global competition.

Reports that Jones was interviewed for the Japanese national job last month, just days before the tournament began, derailed Australia’s campaign.

Although he denied he was about to jump ship, the rumor mill continued to run full steam, with speculation continuing that the 63-year-old would have another interview in Japan in November.

But Jones put those speculations to bed on Tuesday at a packed press conference at Coogee Oval, where he was questioned by reporters for 25 minutes.

He said he was “100%” committed to staying and again denied any links or discussions with Japanese rugby.

“I love working with young players,” he said.

“I loved seeing some young players mature during the World Cup – and some struggled, and that’s part of it.

“I love the game and I love coaching these players 100 percent.

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“If you look at the number of players we’ve taken to the World Cup, the number of players who haven’t reached their peak yet – players like (Fraser) McReight, (Tate) McDermott, (Ben) Donaldson, (Tom) Hooper, (Max) Jorgensen – there are a number of players there who are early in their international careers.

“Most of them showed during the World Cup that they have enough to go forward and be very good players for Australia.

“We’ve added a few more players from all over and we have the core of a really good team.

“It’s the most positive thing.”

Jones stressed that while he wanted to stay, his position would be determined in a post-World Cup review with Rugby Australia.

RA chief Phil Waugh, who played under Jones in the 2003 World Cup final and for several other years, has gone on record saying he is happy to take his former coach at his word that he will not not having spoken with Japan.

Asked why he still believes he is the best man for the job, despite just two wins – against international minnows Portugal and Georgia – in 11 Tests in 2023, Jones said he had “the foresight to see where we need to go.”

“I’ve been through difficult situations before,” he said.

“It’s not an unusual situation. You have a team that has been struggling for a while.

“There’s a system underneath that doesn’t support it. And at some point you hit rock bottom.

“Now is the opportunity to change the team, as we started, by selecting younger players with a bright future.

“We also need to look at the development system underneath. It’s not a simple equation that ‘the Wallabies are bad’.

“Let’s be serious about this. The Wallabies are not where they should be. But underneath, we need to fix the system moving forward.

“If we can do it now, we have a rosy future.”

Jones insisted he had no regrets opting for youth over experience, despite the Wallabies’ World Cup horror.

“Sometimes when you’ve changed, everyone hates change because it’s uncomfortable. Everyone likes the status quo,” he said.

“And we had the courage, even if it was good courage, to make the choice to go with a younger team.

“The young team will be very useful to Australia.”