Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has made the curious claim that it will be “time to go” regardless of Australia’s results at this year’s Rugby World Cup in France.
Jones sensationally signed a long-term deal in January to replace Dave Rennie and coach the Wallabies through to the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
But the wily veteran cast some doubt over that masterplan during a chat with England legend Lawrence Dallaglio on the Evening Standard Rugby Podcast.
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Jones has been in England coaching the Barbarians, who he guided to an entertaining 48-42 win over Steve Hansen’s World XV at Twickenham at the weekend.
“I’m only coaching to this World Cup,” Jones said.
“I’ve signed, but as I’ve made the mistake before, I’ve stayed too long. So we win the World Cup it will be time to go. If we lose the World Cup it will be time to go.”
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Jones has lost two World Cup finals – in 2003 with the Wallabies and in 2019 with England. He was sacked as England coach in 2022 after a poor run of results.
Jones told the podcast that he was confident of having all of his overseas stars available for the World Cup.
“The Wallabies have a law called the Giteau Law where you could only have three players outside Australia with 30 caps,” Jones explained to his audience.
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“We haven’t tabled that with the board yet, but I’m sure we’re going to get a positive response on getting more players. Because we’ve got (Will) Skelton, who’s probably the best right sided lock in the world, Richie Arnold at Toulouse, who’s a fantastic player in the Top 14.
“Quade Cooper, (Samu) Kerevi, (Marika) Koroibete – we can’t snub that sort of talent.
“I think Australians are always better when they are underdogs, when everyone thinks they haven’t got a sniff of it. They can come in under the radar.”
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