There’s been a big shock in Australian rugby this week with the sacking of Dave Rennie as head coach. Even bigger news is the return of Eddie Jones to the head coach role on a 5-year deal, one he was sacked from himself back in 2005 after a poor run of results.
The news comes as Rennie led a camp on the Gold Coast just last week with 44 players going through some logistical plans ahead of the World Cup in France later in the year. Reports from those in attendance suggested everything was fine in terms of Rennie’s position.
Rennie seemed to have survived the cut after a post season review after a mixed 2022 season that saw the Wallabies with a 5 win and 9 loss record. A miraculous come from behind win against Wales in the last Spring Tour game seemed to have saved him from the axe. 2022 was also a season that was already dogged by a lengthy injury list.
All that changed as Eddie Jones was given his marching orders from the England head coach in early December after a poor Spring for England at home. The boos ringing out at Twickenham after one loss seemed to put the writing on the wall for Jones who had been in charge of England since 2016.
With Jones available, Rugby Australia (RA) had to move fast to not lose him to a rival country with the World Cup looming. Jones was not restricted in his severance package by English Rugby to deny him a role as head coach and RA chair Hamish McLennan and Chief Executive Andy Marinos made the move to secure his services.
There had been talk even back as far as 2021 that Jones might be involved in some capacity with RA in a coaching or Director of Rugby role but not until 2024. With a British and Irish Lions tour in 2025 and a home world cup in 2027, Jones has been setup to lead the Wallabies in two of the biggest events on the rugby calendar in Australia’s backyard.
His press conferences are legendary and will get Rugby on the back pages that are normally dominated by Rugby League and AFL in Australia. He’s already taken a pot shot at Rugby League leader, Peter V’landys, suggesting he needs to get away from his other job as Racing NSW Chief Executive and out of a TAB.
V’Landys is known for his brash ways and negative talk towards other sports and maybe in Jones he has met his match for bragging rights in the sports pages. But with Eddie Jones back in charge of Australian rugby, strap yourselves in because it is going to be an interesting ride.
