Jones future further in doubt - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Jones future further in doubt

By Simon Kirby 29/11/2005 07:16:48 PM Comments (0)

Eddie Jones may be playing it cool ahead of a review into his stewardship of the Wallabies after a disastrous Spring tour but it's what his boss didn't say on Tuesday that will be making the coach sweat on his future.

Australian Rugby Union chief executive Gary Flowers was firm in his commitment to stop the rot that culminated in defeat to Wales for the first time in 18 years last weekend but was pointed in his support for the players. "We certainly have the players, I don't doubt we have the players," Flowers told journalists.

"A nine-one performance for the last year is not acceptable in terms of team performance and we've got to turn it around."

The ARU said on Tuesday that the review should take around two weeks, which means Jones' future should be known around Christmas.

Waratah's coach Ewen McKenzie has made no secret that he wants the top job and on Tuesday countered the argument that sacking Jones now would upset the Wallabies' World Cup ambitions by looking to the exploits of Guus Hiddink.

"You only have to look back at soccer and they changed their head coach four months prior to their victory (over Uruguay) the other week," McKenzie told the Nine Network.

But the 'Tahs coach said that Jones was probably right when he said on Monday night that he was "unconcerned" about the ARU review.

"I don't think anything's actually going to happen, there's going to be a review process and they'll make some decisions but I'm not anticipating there's going to be much happening," McKenzie said.

But former Wallabies skipper Nick Farr-Jones urged those who would swing the axe to pause and take a look over the Tasman.

"I maintain that part of the reason New Zealand struggle come World cup time is because they have been too quick often to execute coach and captain," Farr-Jones said.

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