Less than a month after Eddie Jones pleaded for patience in the wake of three humiliations against tier one nations, the two-time Wallabies coach was put on notice to improve or lose the job he took under controversial circumstances a year ago.
It’s time to break out the world’s tiniest violins: Jones is fighting for survival, according to a report by Nikkei, and he could be back on the job market sooner than expected.
Jones has won four of his first 11 games in charge – against Canada, USA, Samoa and Uruguay – and despite some big talking ahead of tougher tests, his team was tonked by New Zealand, France and England, conceding more than 50 points on all three occasions.
Nikkei reported that the Japan Rugby Football Union held a board meeting on December 11 where it was determined Jones would continue in his position but needed to win more. The team faces Wales – who are on a historic losing streak – mid-year which could hold the key to Jones hopes of a reunion with the Wallabies in October.
(Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)
The report added: “Next year, when the team is expected to play against Wales and other teams, they will consider quotas such as world rankings. Depending on the results, there is a possibility that he will be dismissed.”
JRFU executive director Kensuke Iwabuchi told Nikkei: “There were some harsh opinions, but the board decided to support him and decided to keep him in his position.”
The meeting came as reports emerged of a player survey and issues around Jones’ man management – something that has been brought to the fore in recent months with the release of England player Danny Care’s book.
“It was like living in a dictatorship,” Care wrote of being coached by Jones.
“Remember what it felt like when someone was being bullied at school and you were just glad it wasn’t you? That was the vibe.”
Nikkei reported “there had long been concern within the association about the head coach’s behaviour.
“As a result, the team conducted a survey of players, as had been planned from the beginning. Chairman Masato Tsuchida defended the head coach, saying, “With fewer members from last year’s World Cup, it will be difficult to win no matter who takes over as head coach.” He added, “We will discuss the results of the survey at the board meeting next month, including whether there really was any element of power harassment.”
Tsuchida has been a close friend of Jones’ for more than 30 years.
Jones faced the media on December 13 last year as Japan’s new coach.
He left Australia in shame – having apparently interviewed for the vacant Japan job while still in charge of the Wallabies.
(Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)
The story broke the day of Australia’s World Cup loss to Wales and Jones led the two-time world champions to a pool exit for the first time.
“I feel terrible about the results of Australia because I wanted to go back and change Australia. But I don’t feel any guilt at all about this process,” Jones said when asked about reports he held a Zoom job interview.
“I didn’t do an interview before the World Cup. I was asked by the recruitment agency to share my experiences with them on Japan.
“Some people might have construed that as an interview. It certainly wasn’t an interview.
“The first interview I had with Japan was in December and that’s the only interview I’ve had.
“Apologise to Australian fans? Mate, I gave everything I could for that short period and it wasn’t good enough. I had a plan of what we needed to do and we weren’t able to do that. Rugby Australia weren’t able to support that so I decided to move on.
“I wish Australia all the best.”
Jones spent most of the media conference looking forward rather than back.
“To be part of the push for Japan, the top four in the world is an exciting opportunity,” he said. Japan is now ranked No.13.
“I want to honour the past with a Japanese team that has real identity and has a point of difference – and give the Japanese people a team they can be proud of.”
