The Rugby World Cup is a global showcase of sporting prowess, passion, and competition. For Australians, it is not just a tournament but a deep-seated passion. It’s no surprise then, that the country’s worst-ever Rugby World Cup campaign, which culminated in their premature exit in the pool stage, was built on two high-stakes decisions that reverberated through the rugby world.
High-Stakes Decision 1: The Coaching Shuffle
In January, Rugby Australia supremo Hamish McLennan made a bold move by sacking head coach Dave Rennie and bringing back Eddie Jones. The hope was that Jones, who had previously coached Australia to great success, could once again lead them to glory. This decision, while controversial, hinted at a willingness to take risks in pursuit of success.
High-Stakes Decision 2: Youth Over Experience
Eddie Jones doubled down on the high-stakes game by opting to dismantle the experienced core of the Wallabies’ squad and place his faith in youth. The idea was to inject fresh blood and build a team that could take on the world’s best. However, this decision would ultimately prove to be an abject failure, as the Wallabies, once a rugby powerhouse, found themselves ranked 10th in the world and exiting the World Cup in the pool stage for the first time in their history.
The Fallout and Social Media Backlash
The consequences of these high-stakes decisions were painfully evident after the devastating 40-6 loss to Wales, a result that left the Wallabies’ campaign hanging by a thread. Bernard Foley, one of the experienced playmakers left out of the squad, expressed his frustration on social media, echoing the sentiments of many fans.
Fiji’s bonus point in their loss to Portugal sealed the Wallabies’ fate, confirming their exit from the tournament. The team had stayed in France, preparing for a quarter-final they would never play.
Eddie Jones: A Damaged Reputation
Eddie Jones, who had promised Australia a third World Cup triumph in France, now faces the consequences of his high-stakes decisions. His reputation has been severely tarnished, with Australian, French, and even Portuguese fans booing him during the final pool match against Portugal.
Jones appeared to seek the limelight with his public utterances, perhaps as a way to shield his young players from criticism amidst the campaign’s implosion. The goal was to get rugby back on the back pages of Australian newspapers, but it seemed like a distant dream when the team lost all five tests in the run-up to the tournament.
The Carter Gordon Gamble
One of Jones’s high-stakes gambles was his selection of talented rookie Carter Gordon as the only specialist flyhalf in the squad. This decision quickly backfired when the 22-year-old’s goalkicking issues forced the selection of Ben Donaldson at fullback to compensate.
Injuries and Misfortunes
Despite a promising 35-15 opening win over Georgia, the Wallabies faced misfortune before their second match against Fiji when captain Will Skelton and prop Taniela Tupou suffered injuries in training. These two key players were essential to Jones’s plan of combining forward power with backline flair.
The subsequent 22-15 loss to Fiji and the 40-6 debacle against Wales exposed the frailties of a squad that was still finding its footing in the tournament.
Looking Ahead: Structural Issues and the Eddie Jones Era
Rugby Australia acknowledges that there are structural issues within the game that need addressing. Despite the disappointing World Cup campaign, they appear likely to retain their trust in Eddie Jones as the man to guide the Wallabies into the future, including the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour and the World Cup two years later.
Jones himself acknowledges the “high risk” nature of his gamble on youth but remains optimistic that this experience will provide the foundation for a rejuvenated Australian team that can compete with rugby’s elite in the near future.
In the end, the Wallabies’ World Cup campaign will be remembered as a tumultuous journey marked by high-stakes decisions, mixed fortunes, and the hope of a brighter future in the world of rugby.
