Eddie Jones issues surprising apology following Wallabies exit and the attitude shift that may result in renewed success
Eddie Jones apologises to reporter following angry outburst prior to World Cup
Eddie Jones has issued a stark apology to a reporter from the Sydney Morning Herald following a heated confrontation that occurred just under two years ago, surrounding Jones’ early exit from the Wallabies set-up.
As an outspoken character, Jones has always received plenty of attention from reporters, fans, and players during his time at the top of the world game. He’s experienced every high and low that comes with professional sport, faced every question, and experienced every challenge available.
While he may not be everyone’s cup of tea, hiding away from confrontation is the one thing you can’t accuse the experienced coach of.
Tensions with the media
As the story goes, ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, Jones severed his relationship with Herald reporter Tom Decent following a sour pre-tournament press conference that ended with the reporter receiving a message from Jones stating: “Don’t ever contact me again.”
Tensions were tough between Decent and Jones, but were made even more so when The Herald later claimed to have screenshots that showed the then-Wallabies coach being interviewed by Japan Rugby officials via Zoom for their head coach role just before the tournament began.
Sitting down with Decent near Coogee Beach, for their first meeting since The Herald reporter flew to Japan to grill Jones during the Japan Rugby coach announcement, Jones addressed his former sparring partner. With a long black coffee in front of him, Eddie initiated the chat with the disarming line: “Mate, you’re just doing your job,” – an unexpected start.
Decent, still looking to hold the former Wallaby coach to account, but in a calmer and friendlier manner than their previous exchanges, accuses him of selling the dream to the Aussie public heading into the World Cup.
“Well, I still think that was the dream,” he tells the reporter. “You’ve got to back yourself to do it, and so I failed. I don’t feel like I shouldn’t have sold the dream because that’s the dream we should have in Australian rugby.”
British & Irish Lions match officials including three Test referees for Wallabies series announced
The 65-year-old continued: “I’m disappointed that people are disappointed in the way it ended,
“You never like to upset people like that. Even yourself, mate. I can sit here comfortably and say I committed myself 100 per cent to make it work, and it just didn’t end up in the end.”
Admitting that he never reads the articles that are written about him, Jones blames the heightened expectations on his own level of overconfidence.
“I never worry about what people say, unless they say it to your face. I can be criticised for a lot of things, mate. If I criticise myself, the biggest criticism I have for myself is that I thought I could do it quickly. Maybe I got a bit carried away. I couldn’t make the dream a reality. Most good things don’t happen quickly, but I probably thought I could do it, which was an overestimation of my ability.”
In possibly the most vulnerable and human state that many are likely to see, the controversial coach, Jones concluded the interview by admitting: “I do regret the airport press conference. I lost control there. You never want to lose control.
“I apologise, mate. Serious. I didn’t try to piss you off mate, but you know, I probably did treat you unprofessionally, so I apologise mate.”
This apology feels poignant, perhaps a sign of the tide changing – possibly on a personal note as well as a professional one. As head coach of a struggling Japan side, Jones has time to rebuild as the double header against Wales looms large in July.
Rugby Australia complain to World Rugby over French poaching fear
With the British and Irish Lions set to tour Australia later in 2025, there have been plenty of concerns surrounding to future of rugby union in the country, with many of their top stars exiting to France or leaving the sport altogether in favour of Rugby League.
Rugby Australia Chairman Daniel Herbert recently spoke after the governing body announced its 2024 financial results, revealing a deficit of AUS$36.8m, when he slammed the Top 14 outfits.
La Rochelle recently brought in 16-year-old Visesio Kite, while it is understood that highly rated teenager Heinz Lemoto was offered a deal in France.
“It’s something that we’re talking to World Rugby about, because there’s more than what’s been reported as well that we’re aware of, and our view is that France has the ability to produce its own players,” he said.
“They don’t need to come and talk to our player agents to try and poach ours at a very young age. So there’s going to be some discussions at World Rugby level around what is actually allowed to happen in that market.
“Because, you know, [France’s] population of 70 million without the major competition [rugby league] that we have and doesn’t need to go to other markets to try and poach players.”
