Wallabies legend throws his name in the hat to replace Eddie Jones
Stephen Larkham during a training session.
Former Wallabies playmaker Stephen Larkham has revealed that he would like to help Rugby Australia pick up the pieces from a disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign in France.
It was a tournament to forget for the two-time winners, who failed to make it out of the pool stage for the first time in history, all of which culminated in Eddie Jones leaving his role as head coach despite being contracted until the end of 2027.
Big cycle ahead
Larkham admits he has not heard from Rugby Australia but would be open to helping the team rebuild towards two very big events on the horizon in the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour and a home World Cup in 2027.
“I’m certainly interested in trying to help rugby in Australia,” Larkham said on Thursday.
“We’ve got a real philosophy here to make sure we are growing the game as an organisation.
“So however I can help in terms of improving our results and improving our growth within the sporting arena, I’d love to be involved.”
Focused on the Brumbies
The 1999 World Cup winner insists he is focused on his role at the helm of the Brumbies, with the Canberra side gearing up for next year’s Super Rugby Pacific season.
“We’ve sort of got a fair bit on, RA have got a fair bit on at the moment and I’m very focused here on my job,” he said.
“We’ve got a number of changes here with our staff since Super Rugby finished, so there’s been a really good planning period here with the coaches.
“We’re looking to go one better from last year … I’ve been heavily focused here on this program.”
Tight margins
Larkham discussed how tight the tournament in France was with the finest margins deciding the results, as shown by the Springboks’ run to their fourth title.
“They won the last three games by one point – that’s a refereeing decision, that’s one bad mistake, and it changes the fortunes of the team,” he said.
“You could argue there are a few of those refereeing decisions, or bad mistakes that could have changed the whole narrative of the Wallabies.
“I understood Eddie’s philosophy there in terms of bringing the younger group together and seeing if we can jag something … there was potential we were going to do that.”
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