‘I am not much help’ – Eddie Jones apologises to Australia after historic loss
Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones during a press conference.
Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones claims that despite the poor results, he is firmly committed to returning the side to their former glory.
It has been a shocking return to the side for Jones, perhaps typified by the record 40-6 loss to Wales in their crucial Rugby World Cup clash.
The result means the Wallabies are likely to exit the tournament during the pool stage for the first time in history.
The World Cup results add to some difficult reading for Jones and Australia fans, who, since the veteran returned at the beginning of the year, have only seen one win from seven Tests.
Some of Jones’ decision-making, including leaving out veteran duo Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper, has been hotly debated since the loss to Wales, making the status of the Wallabies camp seemingly volatile.
Taking the hit
Jones took responsibility for the loss and made an apology to fans.
“Firstly, I would just like to apologise to all the Australian supporters,” Jones said.
“Our performance was not up to the standard that was required. I apologise for that. I take full responsibility for it. We are disappointed; we have a young team in there very disappointed.
“They tried their hearts out, but unfortunately, at the moment, we don’t have consistency in our play to put pressure on teams like Wales. We do some good things and then fall away. It’s very disappointing.”
🗣️ “The proof is in the pudding, 40-6 is really embarrassing, and I feel for these kids, they’re going to carry this on for the rest of their careers and feel this.”
🇦🇺 Another frank assessment of the state of the Wallabies. #RWC2023 https://t.co/0l8kgUtNkP
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) September 25, 2023
Jones believes despite all the poor results, he is still the man for the job, and he is doing what he can to return the side to form.
“One hundred per cent. I came back to Australia trying to help. At the moment, I am not giving much help, am I? But that doesn’t mean my commitment to helping has changed,” he said.
“I am a proud Australian, I hate to see Australian rugby do as poorly as we have been doing, particularly under my reign.
“It’s not only the Wallabies we have got to improve; we’ve got to treat the whole system of Australian rugby. It’s not an excuse, but we’ve got to have a really good look at ourselves and see what we’ve got to do to improve.”
Experience not the excuse
The veteran took a very young squad to France but feels that was not a concern as it is all about building experience through the tournament.
“I don’t think you can ever use experience as an excuse. Some teams can become experienced really quickly,” he explained.
“When you have a team like we have got at the moment, you just need a period of play or a period of the game to go well and the team can change very quickly.
“At the moment, we have got the ability to do that, so phases of play are good, but the players, because they are young, they tend not to stick at it. It’s not because they don’t care; their effort just drops off a little bit.
“I am not sure you can use experience as an excuse, but it’s definitely part of our issue.”
