Eddie Jones apologized to Australian rugby but refused to quit as Wallabies head coach after being put under further pressure by his team’s 40-6 hammering of Wales last night.
Former England head coach Jones now needs a miracle to prevent his team from becoming the first ever Australian side to exit the World Cup in the pool stages.
Wales replacement fly-half Gareth Anscombe scored 23 points in what was a national record win over Australia. Warren Gatland’s team became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals.
“I would like to apologize to the Australian supporters,” Jones said. ‘Our performance was not at the required level. I take full responsibility for that and apologize.” Jones was sacked by England last December and returned for a second spell in charge of Australia.
“I came back to Australian rugby to try and help,” he said. “I’m not giving much help at the moment, am I?” I am a proud Australian and we need to improve all of Australian rugby.”
Eddie Jones (pictured) has apologized to Australian rugby fans for the Wallabies’ ‘underperformance’
Australia were defeated 40-6 by Wales at the Rugby World Cup on Sunday afternoon, their second defeat of the tournament.
The Wallabies are now in serious danger of becoming the first Australian side to be eliminated from the World Cup in the group stages – and will need results to qualify
According to reports in Sunday’s Sydney Morning Herald, Jones interviewed for the role of head coach of Japan on the eve of this World Cup in France.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Jones, who denied the reports. “I am committed to coaching Australia. I take umbrage at the questioning about my commitment to Australian rugby. It’s red hot to question my commitment to the job.”
Jones admitted the state of Australian rugby looked a mess from the outside but said he was confident he could change things for the better.
“Sometimes games like this make a good team move forward,” he said.
‘I think I have the ability to turn things around. I didn’t do a good enough job.’
Jones now has to ensure Australia beats Portugal on Sunday and hopes Fiji fails to beat the same opponents and Georgia to reach the quarter-finals, but that seems highly unlikely.
Wales now face a quarter-final against Samoa, Japan or Argentina.
Gatland’s side lost number 10 Dan Biggar to a chest injury that would keep him out for a few weeks, but his replacement Anscombe was excellent.
Gatland said Biggar’s problem was ‘not a significant injury’ and Wales will hope he will be fit for the quarter-finals. Biggar will not face Georgia in Wales’ final Pool C match.
“It was a pretty good performance,” Gatland said.
“Life is about getting what you deserve and we deserved to win. We went through some pain and hard times and they took charge. We have some brilliant people.
‘It was fantastic not to have to concede a single try. I thought it would be an exciting match, but we had a great week of preparation.
“We are a momentum team and will build confidence through this result.”
Super sub Anscombe said: “To concede just six points against a strong Wallabies team is just remarkable.
“Dan Biggar means so much to this team, he is a true spiritual leader. I knew I had to keep going and fulfill my role and that was all I was focused on.
“I have to give our guys a lot of credit. They were excellent and I am absolutely delighted for the group.”
Gareth Anscombe (right) came on for Dan Biggar and scored 23 points for Wales, including a drop goal
Biggar (right) left the field with a shoulder injury and could miss several weeks
Scrum half Gareth Davies (centre) from Wales got the opener for his team after just three minutes
Australia went behind 24–0 at half-time, before Wales scored two more tries in the second half
Warren Gatland’s (right) side have now become the first side to qualify for the knockout stages
In addition to Anscombe, Gatland had excellent performances from the likes of his captain Jac Morgan, number 8 Taulupe Faletau and winger Josh Adams.
Welsh tries came from Gareth Davies, Nick Tompkins and Morgan and Anscombe put the boot in Australia as Jones’ side seriously imploded. The Wallabies made numerous mistakes. But Wales were just as good as Jones’ team was poor.
It meant Gatland reduced his head-to-head deficit with Jones to 4-3 from seven games played.
“I have a contract and at the end of the World Cup my performance will be assessed and at the moment it is not good enough,” Jones admitted.
‘We are currently in a bad period, but we have to fight our way out of it.’