Australia, known for its enthusiastic gambling culture, witnessed one of its most pivotal rugby campaigns marked by high-stakes decisions, some of which paid off, and others that resulted in disappointment. As the Wallabies exit the Rugby World Cup in the pool stage for the first time, it’s time to reflect on the choices that shaped their journey.
In January, Hamish McLennan, the Rugby Australia supremo, made a bold move by replacing Dave Rennie with Eddie Jones as the head coach. This decision was viewed as a gamble that held potential for future success, despite initial skepticism.
However, the second high-stakes decision made by Jones to overhaul the squad, favoring youthful talent over experienced players, proved to be an abject failure. The Wallabies, currently ranked 10th globally, endured a disheartening 40-6 loss to Wales, sealing their World Cup fate.
Bernard Foley, one of the experienced playmakers left out of the squad, voiced the collective disappointment, stating, “It didn’t have to be like this.” The devastating loss to Wales effectively ended the campaign’s hopes, with Fiji’s bonus point against Portugal serving as the final blow.
Eddie Jones has committed to seeing out his contract until the 2027 World Cup, pending a post-tournament review by Rugby Australia. However, his reputation has been significantly tarnished, with Australian, French, and Portuguese fans expressing their discontent through boos during the final pool match against Portugal.
Jones’s tactics, which included seeking the limelight with public statements to shift the media focus onto rugby, aimed to protect his young players from criticism amid the campaign’s turmoil.
Jones’s return in January had included ambitious promises of a third World Cup triumph in France, a goal that seemed far-fetched as Australia struggled, losing all five pre-tournament tests. His selection of rookie Carter Gordon as the sole specialist flyhalf exposed the team’s vulnerabilities when Gordon’s goalkicking woes led to the selection of Ben Donaldson at fullback.
The Wallabies’ campaign took a hit when captain Will Skelton and prop Taniela Tupou suffered injuries during training, disrupting Jones’s strategy of blending forward power with backline flair. The losses to Fiji and Wales compounded the team’s challenges.
Despite the setbacks, Rugby Australia seems likely to retain its faith in Jones as the man to guide the Wallabies into the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour and the subsequent World Cup in 2027. Jones acknowledges the “high-risk” nature of his gamble on youth but believes the experience gained during this campaign lays the foundation for a competitive future.
In Jones’s words, “It’s just a continuation of what we are doing—work hard, focus on developing an Australian style of rugby, encourage players to take more individual responsibility, and let the leadership group continue to grow. In nine months’ time, we will be a different team.” As the Wallabies regroup and look to the future, their journey will be one of rebuilding and redemption.
