Australia show Jones the door

AUSTRALIAN rugby officials will be hoping that Eddie Jones’ departure as national coach will end a destabilising period that threatened to undermine preparation for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.

Jones was renowned as an obsessive tactician but his inability to improve Australia’s dismal away form convinced the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) not to let him see out the end of his contract.

Jones, 45, had also faced criticism for his autocratic style, marked by the departure of a number of coaching assistants in recent years.

Widely regarded as an outsider when he was appointed national coach in 2001, Jones enjoyed early success when the Wallabies defended the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations trophy.

But by the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia he was facing calls for his sacking, with the Wallabies derided as ‘the wobblies’ as they attempted to overcome a form slump.

Australia lifted to upset New Zealand and reach the final, losing 21-19 to England and earning Jones a two-year stay of execution.

His downfall yesterday came after last month’s poor European tour brought Australia’s recent record to eight losses in their last nine internationals.

The Wallaby pack was humiliated by England during the tour and Jones’ tactics were labelled ‘robotic’.

Australia’s 24-22 loss to Wales in Cardiff last week was the final straw, with ARU chief executive Gary Flowers saying: “It was a game we should have won.”

Jones’ refusal to replace captain George Gregan also played a part in his downfall, as the ageing leader maintained his Test spot despite a form slump in Europe while promising younger players were dropped.

Jones, who had a contract running until 2007, insisted he was still the best man for the job and expressed hope he would eventually regain the post.

He accepted the Wallabies had not won enough matches but said he was disappointed the ARU did not at least wait until a meeting next week when he was scheduled to present his vision for the side’s future.

“I would have liked the opportunity to present to the ARU but they’re quite entitled to make a decision and they’ve made it and they’ve made it bluntly,” he told reporters. “I don’t have any recourse.”

Jones’ overall record with Australia was 33 wins, 23 losses and one draw.

But it was his team’s lack of away form that cost him his job.

Under Jones the Wallabies won just two of their 17 away Tests against the five top rugby nations, a record the ARU decided was unacceptable as Australia prepares for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.