LYON, France (AP) — Following Australia’s worst Rugby World Cup defeat that pushed it to the verge of its earliest Rugby World Cup exit, coach Eddie Jones insisted he’s nonetheless the person to show the Wallabies round.
The Wallabies needed to cease unbeaten Wales on Sunday in Lyon to maintain alive their good file of creating the quarters at each event. However they have been thrashed 40-6.
Wales’ greatest win over Australia propelled it to the quarterfinals with a recreation to spare in Pool C, whereas Australia’s destiny was now not in its arms.
It may beat Portugal subsequent weekend to even its pool file at 2-2, however could possibly be overtaken by Fiji if the latter beats Georgia and Portugal.
Jones was a forlorn determine after his Wallabies have been sunk by three tries and the boot of Gareth Anscombe.
Rugby Australia ruthlessly sacked Dave Rennie in January as a result of a 38% win file, and instantly introduced aboard Jones, 20 years after he led the Wallabies to the 2003 Rugby World Cup ultimate. RA gave Jones a contract to the 2027 Rugby World Cup however hoped for certainly one of his fast fixes to have the staff firing in France.
However the Wallabies have misplaced seven of his eight exams. They misplaced to Fiji for the primary time in 69 years final weekend, and suffered their heaviest loss to Wales.
“I stay dedicated to the Australia challenge,” Jones mentioned. “I nonetheless imagine I’m the particular person to show issues round.
“In the mean time I’m not giving a lot assist, am I? However that doesn’t imply my dedication to serving to has modified.
“I’m a proud Australian, I hate to see Australian rugby do as poorly as we have now been doing, notably beneath my reign. It’s not solely the Wallabies we have now bought to enhance, we’ve bought to deal with the entire system of Australian rugby. It’s not an excuse however we’ve bought to have a very good take a look at ourselves and see what we’ve bought to do to enhance.”
Throughout the previous week, Jones defended his determination to convey a younger, largely inexperienced squad, saying he was constructing to 2027 whereas additionally believing they might nonetheless win this Rugby World Cup. He added he didn’t need to wait till after this event to start the rebuild.
“I’ve bought the power to show issues round,” he mentioned. “I hoped we might have the ability to do it by now however we haven’t been in a position to. I haven’t completed a adequate job and I’m disenchanted about that.”
On the eve of the Wales match, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Jones interviewed final month for his outdated Japan job. Requested about it after the Wales recreation, he mentioned, “I don’t know what you’re speaking about mate. I take umbrage to individuals questioning my dedication to the Australia job.”
Flyhalf Carter Gordon, dropped to the bench for the Wales, mentioned the gamers believed in Jones.
“So far as the gamers know, Eddie is dedicated to Rugby Australia,” Gordon mentioned. “Look, we all know he’s dedicated to us and we’re dedicated to him.”
The Wallabies paid for his or her incapacity to be medical towards Wales in a powerful first half that completed with them trailing 16-6, they usually have been overrun within the second half.
“I apologize to all of the Australian supporters,” Jones mentioned.
“Our efficiency was lower than the usual that was required. We’re disenchanted, we have now a younger staff in there very disenchanted. They tried their hearts out however sadly in the meanwhile we don’t have consistency in our play to place strain on groups like Wales. We do some good issues after which fall away. It’s very disappointing.”
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