What about “divine power”? Why Eddie HC is a candidate to coach Japan even though Australia’s national team failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time
Eddie Jones, who was dismissed from the England national team last December, took over as head coach of his native Australia for the second time in January of this year. The world-famous general is also known for leading Japan to a World Cup victory over South Africa in 2003.
Jones, who has led Australia, the “Wallabies,” to their second World Cup, has played in the World Cup with Australia, Japan, and England, and with 14 wins and three losses, Jones, a strong World Cup coach, had stated that his “goal is to win the championship. However, just before the World Cup, the team suffered five consecutive defeats in test matches against New Zealand, France, and other countries.
Jones, who had signed a five-year contract with the team, was not able to win the World Cup, but he did not have enough experience to win the World Cup. With an eye on the World Cup to be held in his country in 2007, he selected young players such as SO Carter Gordon, and despite the concerns of the local media, he embarked on a bold reform to prepare for the tournament.
They won their first match against Georgia with a four-try bonus point victory. However, they suffered their first loss in 69 years against Fiji, 15-22, and then a record 6-40 defeat against Wales. In the end, in their 10th World Cup, the two-time champion Wallabies suffered the humiliation of being eliminated from the World Cup qualifying pool for the first time.
After the defeat against Wales, HC Jones apologized for his actions.
I would like to apologise to all the supporters in Australia. Our performance was not up to the required standard. I apologize for that. I take full responsibility for that. I am really disappointed. We are a young team and I am really disappointed.”
Also during the World Cup tournament, it was reported in the local newspaper, the Sydney Morning Herald, that he had made contact with officials of the Japan Rugby Union in late August. When asked about this, he replied, “I don’t know what you are talking about. I am committed to coaching Australia. I will give 100% for Australian rugby,” was his only response.
When asked if the players also felt it affected their game, captain LO Will Skelton defended him, saying, “We have full confidence in him.
We have full confidence in him. I trust his word. I think his long-term vision and his desire to bring Australian rugby back is a positive thing. As well as Jones’ personality as seen in the media, the way he speaks one-on-one in front of the team and the way he gives instructions, the players will follow him and so will I. He is a great coach with a high rugby IQ.
Working with him is a learning experience every day. He makes the game of rugby simple. Unfortunately, the weekend and the game a few weeks ago did not show the results of his coaching over the past few months. That is the players’ responsibility and we have to be aware of that.”
After all, the Wallabies finished the tournament in third place in their pool. Jones said that the team, which averaged 26.5 years old, was the youngest in Australia’s World Cup history, and at the press conference after the four matches, he said, “I am not satisfied with the result, but I am satisfied with the way we went into this tournament,” insisting that the 180-degree turnaround in the previous policy of emphasizing experience had not been a mistake. He insisted that he had not made a mistake in making a 180-degree turnaround from his previous policy of emphasizing experience. The Australian leaders have announced that HC Jones will stay on, but even so, the future remains uncertain.
Jones said, “Ihave signed a five-year contract, but it will be reviewed by the Australian Association in November. Then we will talk about it. I just want to face the fact that I have full responsibility and give the team the opportunity to get better, and as I have said many times, the results don’t show it, but I think we are getting there,” he said, looking straight ahead.
Although HC Jones has indicated that he will stay in Australia, there are still whispers of a return to the national team, and the Japanese media is lined with the words “next head coach. In an interview with the British media about this, he said, ” I have a long-term contract [with the Australian Association], but the association’s thinking could change. The head coach is the one who is hired. I don’t know what will happen if the situation changes,” he implied.
HC Jones has been associated with Suntory since 1997 and has been Director of Rugby of Tokyo Suntory Sangoliath this season. HC Jones is also an old friend of Suntory-born Masato Tsuchida, chairman of the Japan Rugby Union.
Jones, who has been a member of the Japan Rugby Union since 1972, is also an old acquaintance of Masashi Tsuchida, the chairman of the Japan Rugby Union, who hails from Suntory, and HC Jones. Will he continue to lead his country to Australia, or will he once again become the head coach of Japan?
Either way, there is a good chance that he will be leading one of the teams in the next World Cup. And will he be able to prove his strength at the World Cup again? Eddie Jones’ challenge is not over yet.
Interview and text by: Kenji Saito
Born in 1975. He is a sportswriter who covers and writes for magazines and websites, focusing on rugby and soccer. He has covered the World Cup for five consecutive years until the 2019 tournament. He covered all 57 matches of the last World Cup, when Japan was coached by Eddie Jones. His recent books include "Rugby Language Dictionary" (Seibundo Shinkosha) and "Rugby Spectator's Guide" (Kairyusha). In high school, he played as a strong tackling FB.
PHOTO: Afro