Sonny Bill Williams stands by Eddie Jones criticism and offers services to beleaguered Rugby Australia
Former All Black and current TV pundit Sonny Bill Williams during the Rugby World Cup.
Dual-code legend Sonny Bill Williams stands by his words after slamming Eddie Jones following the Wallabies’ defeat to Wales.
Williams led the criticism of the Australia head coach following their heavy Rugby World Cup loss last Sunday.
The 38-year-old revealed his disappointment at Jones’ alleged job interview with the Japanese Rugby Union, which was first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
He doubled down on that appraisal, questioning Jones’ judgement and character ahead of the Wallabies’ clash against Portugal.
Not committed
“Eddie as a man, as a person I’m a little bit upset about how he’s let this current group down by… him having a meeting with the Japanese rugby union,” the former All Black said on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven programme.
“A couple of days… before getting on the plane to come here shows to me that he has one foot out and one foot in.”
Williams also believes that Jones got his selection policy wrong, getting rid of experienced players such as Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper, and taking a young squad to France.
“Hooper, Cooper, (Bernard) Foley, not being picked, solely relying on young Carter Gordon and his back-up, (Ben) Donaldson, that’s not even starting for New South Wales Waratahs,” he said.
“The second point would be coaching staff, a coach (Brad Davis) walks out a couple of days before we come over here.
“And then we get a forward that hasn’t even played rugby union (Jason Ryles) as the attack coach.”
Willing to help out
As a player, Williams may have had an intense rivalry with the Wallabies, but the former centre now has an affinity for Australian rugby.
He currently lives in Sydney and has offered his help to the governing body to try and grow the grassroots game in the city.
“Obviously, when it comes to Australian rugby union, I’ve been in this space for a few years now and I want to see it thrive. A lot of things need to change, reset button… strategies within the community, Western Sydney, for example, I would love to be a part of that (development),” he said.
“A couple of years ago, I tweeted that we need to get some structures in place, strategies in place around the Western Sydney area. Let’s start a college competition in the public schools based out west and see where we go from there.”
READ MORE: James Slipper to set Wallabies Rugby World Cup appearance record against Portugal
