Eddie Jones facing the ‘reality’ of his job security post-Rugby World Cup

Eddie Jones has revealed that he’s unsure about his coaching future with the Wallabies if they fail to beat Wales in Sunday’s crunch Pool C Rugby World Cup encounter in Lyon.

Australia can ill afford a defeat in that fixture as it will almost certainly mean they will be eliminated at the global showpiece’s group stage for the first time in the tournament’s history.

Review to be held

Jones said a review will be held at the end of the World Cup, and although he is contracted through to the next tournament in 2027 – which will be held in Australia – he revealed that he may not be in charge of the Wallabies at that time.

Since taking over the coaching reins from Dave Rennie in January, Jones has found the going tough, as the Wallabies have won just one out of seven Tests under his guidance.

“At the end of the World Cup, there’ll be a review, and given the results we’ve had, then maybe Australian Rugby doesn’t want to keep me,” he told AAP.

“That’s the reality of the job I live in, and I understand that.”

Jones has been linked with a return to Japan to take charge of the Brave Blossoms, and a journalist repeatedly questioned his commitment to the Wallabies, but the experienced coach refused to answer, saying he was only focusing on the upcoming clash against Wales, who are setting the pace at the top of Pool C.

“I’m just worried about coaching against Wales this week,” said Jones.

He has received plenty of criticism as he selected a youthful Wallabies squad for the World Cup while dropping several experienced players like long-term captain Michael Hooper and fly-half Quade Cooper.

Although his team is struggling to secure the desired results, Jones insisted he had no regrets and said he was willing to make some hard decisions to improve Australian rugby, despite the frustration of fans about their poor results.

“I don’t try to make myself out as a saint, but sometimes you’ve got to take some hard decisions to get the results further down the track,” said Jones.

“I’ve got no doubt we’ll win on Sunday, the way the team’s prepared and have come together.

“But if we don’t, then sometimes you’ve got to do the work that allows you to be successful further down the track.

“I don’t know of any team that you can come in and blow magic over, you’ve got to go through a process, and you’ve got to find out what’s wrong with the team, and then you’ve got to try to address those problems.

“So, I sit here very comfortably feeling like I’m doing the job I should be doing.

“I know people are upset about it, and I understand that … because the results aren’t good enough, but sometimes there’s some pain before you get some success.”

Defends decision to play youngsters

Jones was asked why he didn’t wait until after the current World Cup to make such changes but said he needed to introduce young players now.

“Those guys have been around, results over the last period of time haven’t been what they need to be, and our results are even worse, but sometimes you’ve got to do that to go forward,” he added.

“We need to create a new group of players that have higher standards of training, higher standards of behaviour, higher standards of expectation; that’s what we’re trying to do, mate.

“I don’t think waiting is the right answer; you need to start building a team.

“To win a World Cup, I reckon it takes six years … very rarely it’s done before that.”

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