2023-09-25 14:36:13
The 2023 World Cup has just written a page in rugby history. For the first time in ten editions, Australia will miss the quarter-finals. Not yet a certainty because Fiji will have to finish the job against Georgia and Portugal but it would take a miracle for the Wallabies to resist the hurricane caused by a second defeat in a row on Sunday evening against Wales. A rout more than a simple defeat (40-6), symbol of rugby union in crisis in the land of the Koalas, four years before a World Cup organized on its soil.
“I would like to apologize to the Australian supporters,” sighs coach Eddie Jones, marked and much calmer than usual at press conferences. I really want to do it. I take full responsibility. We are really disappointed. » “I don’t have much to say, I’m ashamed for the Australian people,” continues evening captain David Porecki. We hoped to have a great match. It just wasn’t enough. We will take stock later. Right now, I’m just disgusted. »
One man concentrates all the criticism: Eddie Jones. Aged 63, the finalist coach of the 2003 World Cup with Australia no longer seems to benefit from any credit. With the local press, it is a permanent “war”, between harsh press briefings on one side and targeted information on the other. On this match day against Wales, an article from « Sydney Morning Herald » revealed exchanges between Eddie Jones and the Japanese federation which allegedly took place just before the start of the World Cup.
“The Eddie Jones experiment can officially be called a disaster”
So after the evening’s setback, Eddie Jones, who coached Japan from 2012 to 2015, was questioned about this. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he cut in once. “I already said I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says a second time. “People always question my commitment to this team,” he explains on the third restart. We worked non-stop. I can apologize for this result. But I am 100% committed to this selection. No one can question it. I came back to Australia to help this rugby and the results do not change my will. »
“The Eddie Jones experience can officially be described as a disaster,” wrote the “Sydney Morning Herald” this Sunday evening in France, as Australia wakes up. “Fans watching TV might think they’re stuck in a bad dream, still hoping for the magic Eddie Jones promised all year to work. But there is nothing amusing for the thousands of supporters who came to France after believing in this dream,” continues one of Australia’s largest daily newspapers.
Questioned by the local channel Stan Sport, one of the captains of the Wallabies, Michael Hooper, not selected for this World Cup due to an injury, was keen to provide unwavering support to Eddie Jones. “A lot of things are going to be said about Eddie,” he said live on Australian TV. But I was on that team. No one is up longer than Eddie. He wakes up at 3 a.m. to try to improve this team. Everyone will be criticized: players, coaches, staff, rugby in the broad sense. But let’s not give up on Eddie. I hate seeing people get booed, no matter who they are. »
Lots of debates. But they do not answer the question: how to recover this Australian rugby, double world champion in 1991 and 1999 but which has not seen a semi-final since 2015? Appointed in January 2023, Eddie Jones wanted to rejuvenate the squad and build for the 2027 World Cup, which will take place from Sydney to Perth. But does this rugby union, overtaken in Australia by the XIII, “Australian football” or even “soccer” after a successful Women’s World Cup, have the means to renew itself?
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