Eddie Jones labelled ‘pathetic’ by Sir Clive Woodward after Australian likened coaching the Wallabies to ‘eating s***’ as England legend urges Japan NOT to hire outgoing boss
Eddie Jones #EddieJones
Eddie Jones has been slammed for his language after resigning as Australia head coach less than 12 months into a five-year deal.
On quitting the Wallabies on Sunday, Jones told The Sydney Morning Herald: ‘I gave it a run. Sometimes you have to eat s*** for others to eat caviar further down the track.’
It is expected the 63-year-old will now return to join Japan.
‘What a pathetic thing to say,’ MailSport columnist and England’s 2003 World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward said of Jones’ public comments when confirming his Australia departure. ‘Every Australian I have spoken with is just shaking their head over the whole situation. But this outburst and especially Jones’ language has just poured oil on the flames.
‘It is really embarrassing for Rugby Australia and I would be very surprised if the Japanese Rugby Union would allow or condone this type of behaviour.
Sir Clive Woodward (left) has slammed Eddie Jones’s ‘pathetic’ language
Jones likened coaching the Australian team to ‘eating s***’ after announcing his resignation
‘Jones is coaching the Barbarians – a side with great standards and tradition – this weekend and I am sure the last thing they would want to be associated with is stuff like this.
‘The real loser in all this is Dave Rennie who I thought was very harshly sacked to make room for Jones. Now, less than a year later, Australia are back to square one.
‘In fact, they are in a far worse position than square one! Rugby Australia owe Rennie a real apology.’
Former England boss Jones returned to the southern hemisphere in January after being sacked by the RFU last year.
But his second stint with the Wallabies has been littered with poor on-field returns and off-pitch controversy.
Jones’ side became the first in Australian history not to make the quarter-finals of the World Cup at this year’s tournament in France.
He won just two of nine Tests in charge, beating only minnows Georgia and Portugal.
Jones has been heavily linked with a return to Japan and although he has constantly denied that being the case, a move back to the Far East now looks close to inevitable.
‘I’m so p***** off with the situation. I’m really p*****off with what has happened,’ Jones said.
‘I take responsibility for the bad results. But I don’t take responsibility for 20 years of decline of Australian rugby and that’s what’s trying to be pinned on me.’
Jones’ decision to quit is of huge embarrassment to Rugby Australia and chairman Hamish McLennan.
Jones quickly replaced Rennie as Wallaby head coach after his England departure. Rennie was discarded in favour of Jones who signed a deal to 2027.
Woodward also said Rugby Australia are worse than ‘back to square one’ now
He believes rugby bosses owe Jones’s predecessor, Dave Rennie, an apology
He was expected to lead Australia against the touring British & Irish Lions in 2025 and at a home World Cup two years later.
But that won’t happen now. Jones is coaching the Barbarians in Cardiff this week for their game with Wales at Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Ahead of hosting the next World Cup and the next Lions tour, Australian rugby is in crisis on and off the field.
Jones also hit out at the sport’s development pathway systems while quitting.
Reports in Australia suggest Jones will not receive a payout for turning his back on the Wallabies.
He told The Australian he still hopes to carry on coaching and Jones is now heavy favourite to replace Jamie Joseph as Japan head coach.
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