Aussies announce urgent review
The Australian Rugby Union will launch an immediate review of the Wallabies’ dismal European tour as speculation mounts that Eddie Jones’ days as head coach are numbered.
Australia’s 24-22 defeat to Wales last night was their eighth in nine Tests and reports emerging from Down Under this week suggest the ARU top brass have lost faith in Jones.
Managing director Gary Flowers insisted the performance review will not be a witch-hunt but he did state the tour had been “bitterly disappointing”.
The review, to be led by the ARU’s high performance manager Dr Peter Davis, was not expected to start until January but it has now been brought forward.
Flowers said: “It is critical to ensure the Wallabies return to a positive, winning culture. The review is the start of that process.
“We have a managerial team in place that has ensured that the ARU as an organisation will continue to deliver our key objectives right across the game.
“The results clearly don’t measure up to the goals that were set before the tour.
“This review will begin immediately, but suggestions of a witch-hunt in our broader organisation are ridiculous. I have said from the outset that some perspective is required here.
“We have a solid strategic plan in place. There is no substance to some of the hysteria being generated in some quarters.”
Jones refuses to discuss speculation over his future, though he is convinced Australia have the “nucleus of a squad that can win the World Cup” in 2007.
But what they do not have is a scrum capable of competing with the world’s best. They were demolished by England a fortnight ago and were put under immense pressure by Wales yesterday.
Australia allowed Wales back into the game when the scrum buckled three times on their own five-metre line and referee Tony Spreadbury awarded a penalty try.
“We obviously have to get stronger in areas but we can play the sort of rugby that can win games against the best sides,” said Jones.
“I’ve got full confidence in that but we definitely have to develop players. Up front we have to develop a good serviceable scrum. I thought our lineout on the tour has progressed but we definitely need to get better in the driving play.
“It’s going to take a lot of work to make our scrum better but the side will develop well over the next 18 months.”
Australia do not have a full-time forwards coach – Cameron Lillicrap doubles up as a physio – and Jones has already called for scrum schools to be established as a matter of urgency.
All they require is parity up front because, like New Zealand, Australia have a back division capable of inflicting serious damage.
Mat Rogers, Chris Latham and particularly Lote Tuqiri were a constant danger to Wales.
“By France 2007 we’ll have a very good side. You saw the sort of rugby we can play. We held the ball very well and we made plenty of line-breaks,” insisted Jones.
But it remains to be seen whether Jones will be around to lead Australia to France.
Potential replacements for Jones include Ewen McKenzie and John Connolly, the Bath head coach who is returning home to Australia.
McKenzie was Australia’s forwards coach at the 2003 World Cup before taking over at New South Wales.
