Australia are contemplating a sensational transfer to signal Eddie Jones and ‘weaponise’ the sacked England coach for subsequent yr’s World Cup.
Having didn’t put a non-compete clause in Jones’s severance deal when his contract was terminated on Tuesday, the Australian is free to hitch one other workforce and will come again to hang-out the RFU.
He revealed he’s ‘up for a scrap’ and prepared for a direct return – with a return dwelling to Sydney having the potential to ship worry down the corridors of energy at Twickenham.
Australia are contemplating a sensational transfer to signal Eddie Jones who was sacked by England on Tuesday
Rugby Australia chief Hamish McLennan mentioned it might be the return of the ‘prodigal son’. Pictured: Jones teaching the Wallabies in 2004
Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan revealed to the Mail on Sunday that the Wallabies are how they may parachute Jones into their plans for France 2023.
McLennan wouldn’t be drawn on the specifics of a task however Jones’s expertise might set him as much as work as a director of rugby alongside head coach Dave Rennie.
‘Eddie is clearly an enormous expertise and campaigner in World Cups,’ mentioned McLennan. ‘We’ve received Dave Rennie in place however we have to assume how we are able to weaponise these current occasions for Australia if Eddie desires to return dwelling.’
Jones has reached three World Cup finals in 4 makes an attempt, successful one, and is determined to finish his profession with one other title.
The 62-year-old was a divisive determine in English rugby and the RFU made a snap determination to sack him after the disastrous autumn marketing campaign.
Australia host British & Irish Lions in 2025, earlier than staging the World Cup in 2027 and Jones, who final coached the Wallabies in 2005, would certainly relish the problem of a homecoming.
‘I’m stunned this has occurred,’ admitted McLennan. ‘Is Australia prepared for Eddie? He’s the prodigal teaching son. For probably the most half, folks love him.’
Hamish McLennan wouldn’t be drawn on the specifics of a task however Jones’s expertise might set him as much as work as a director of rugby alongside head coach Dave Rennie
Steve Borthwick was a coach beneath Jones earlier than leaving for Leicester however the RFU are eager for him to be the person to steer England on the Six Nations
Jones’s tactical nous has been extensively praised however he was {accused} of operating a ‘tradition of worry’ earlier than his seven years with England got here to a sudden finish this week.
He informed the Sydney Morning Herald: ‘On this job I’ve learnt it’s unattainable to keep away from being moved on. It comes with the gig. However I’m happy with what we achieved in my time right here [with England] and I want I had the chance to complete what I began.
‘All of the critics are having their say. My solely response is that I’ve coached a sure approach my entire profession and I’m pleased with that, and I’m not about to vary something with regards to my dedication, expectations and willpower to get issues executed. I’m not going to get into something greater than that.
‘As for my subsequent step, nicely I feel everybody is aware of I like a scrap and I’m up for no matter problem is subsequent. I’m open to all the pieces in rugby and I’ve made no secret of my want to give the NRL a go, too. Nothing is off the desk. Nothing. It’s all about the fitting job on the proper time and I’ll take a look at all of it.’
Jones left Twickenham on Tuesday morning in a black Mercedes.
There have been a collection of conferences on Monday afternoon, with the RFU forming a panel together with CEO Invoice Sweeney, Efficiency Director Conor O’Shea, Sir Ian McGeechan and board members Genevieve Shore and Phil de Glanville.
Jones was the Wallabies coach between 2001 and 2005 and led them on the 2003 Ruby World Cup the place his facet misplaced to England because of Jonny Wilkinson’s well-known drop purpose
Jones was first to be referred to as in and was given round an hour to avoid wasting his job.
His ‘management employees’, together with marketing consultant Neil Craig, former England captain Will Carling, and psychologists Andrea Furst and Corinne Reid had been second. And the assistant coaches took their seats individually for the ultimate assembly.
Richard Cockerill was made interim coach on Tuesday morning and given a mandate to organize the workforce for the Six Nations. He was on the Gtech Neighborhood Staium on Friday night time to look at London Irish’s defeat by Montpellier however his future continues to be shrouded in uncertainty.
Whereas Jones has gone, the RFU are but to difficulty any assurances in regards to the position of his assistants because the negotiate Steve Borthwick’s launch from Leicester.
Borthwick is prone to wish to herald a few of his personal employees however the RFU are but to agree a compensation bundle with the Tigers, who’ve discovered themselves in a robust bargaining place.
At a delayed press convention on Friday afternoon, Borthwick refused to have interaction on discussions about England however revealed he had addressed the hypothesis together with his squad forward of as we speak’s sport towards Leicester.
Leicester and England scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet, who despatched Jones a message after he was sacked, mentioned: ‘Steve addressed the squad in regards to the hearsay earlier within the week. We had that chat after which that was it for us, we focussed straightaway on that problem towards Ospreys.’
Borthwick insisted that he’ll nonetheless be answerable for Leicester for subsequent week’s sport towards Clermont, however the RFU will probably be eager to place him in place by January to start preparations for the Six Nations.
