Wallaby Allan Alaalatoa opens up about the ‘hurt’ of Eddie Jones joining Japan
Injured Wallabies captain Allan Alaalatoa has discussed how much it “really hurt” to see former Australia coach Eddie Jones sign with Japan last week following long-lasting rumours and denial.
Two days out from the Wallabies’ first Bledisloe Cup clash of the year against the All Blacks, newly-appointed skipper Allan Alaalatoa sat down next to coach Eddie Jones at a press conference.
Alaalatoa had just been given the opportunity to lead Australia against arch-rivals New Zealand for the first time. Clearly, the skipper was working quite closely with the head coach.
But Alaalatoa was injured during that Test. The Wallabies captain ruptured his Achilles against the All Blacks at the world-famous MCG and was unfortunately ruled out of the upcoming World Cup.
With a new-look side going to France without their injured tighthead prop, Alaalatoa was left to ride every surprise, disappointment and frustration of that campaign along with fans in Australia.
That included the shock of Eddie Jones’ reported meeting.
Alaalatoa, just like most fans back in Australia, wanted to believe that the news wasn’t true – but that made what came next that much more heartbreaking.
Jones denied the report for the weeks and months that followed, too, but he was officially unveiled as Japan’s new head coach last week. It left Alaalatoa feeling “hurt.”
“I was back home, obviously watching the World Cup and read the article that came out about him being in conversation with Japan,” Alaalatoa told The Sydney Morning Herald last week.
“But my first though was, ‘Nah that’s not true, maybe its rumours being spread.’ But now that it’s confirmed, it just really hurt. To be honest, mate, it did hurt when the news was confirmed he was going to Japan.
“It was really disappointing to see.”
When Eddie Jones was unveiled as Australia’s new coach at the start of the year, the 63-year-old was widely considered the saviour that the sport so desperately needed Down Under.
Jones was treated and seen like a rockstar at the Sydney Sevens in January. The future seemed bright for Australian rugby.
But Jones’ new era officially got underway with a loss to the world champion Springboks in South Africa.
Losses to Argentina, two to New Zealand and another to France followed as the Wallabies went into the World Cup with a record of five defeats from as many starts.
The World Cup didn’t go much better, either, as Australia bundled out of the tournament at the pool stage for the first time ever. It was a new low for the Wallabies.
But Jones had signed a five-year deal, and the players bought into the idea that the man known affectionally as ‘Eddie’ was going to be around for a while.
So, for Jones to resign just after the World Cup final, it came as a saddening surprise to all of the players who had fought so valiantly in the gold jersey this year.
“We knew he was here for five years, and he was here to make us better players and that he cared about the players,” Alaalatoa said.
“The decisions he was making this year, it may have been one eye on the future but he was also picking a team he thought could win the World Cup as well.
“When you were part of that team and that squad, you believe him.
“You believe this man is going to be around with us for four or five years, and no matter what we go through, he is going to have our back. He’s going to be with us every step of the way and turn it all around.
“I feel for the boys because you obviously put so much trust into him and you believe in him and the game plans he brought in, and the changes he wanted to make towards the culture.
“As a leadership group, it’s your job to believe in what the coach is saying and to then drive that among the group, even if there is a little bit of doubt about it. It is your job as a leader to bring everyone together and that takes a lot of energy.”
Following long-lasting rumours, Jones signed a four-year deal with Japan last week. It was officially confirmed by the JRFU on Wednesday and there was a press conference that week in Tokyo, too.
The “hurt” and disappointment that Alaalatoa clearly feels might not go away for a while, but the dawn of another new era awaits the Wallabies – and that’s something to look forward to.
It’s time to “forget” about ‘Eddie’.
“To see all this come out now, and see him sign with Japan, it just hurts. But now that it is done, it’s new so it hurts but the other side is you get that opportunity just to move on now,” he added.
“All that decision has been made, and he’s been in the media a lot, but now it is just forget about him now, let’s move on.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
2 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
2 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
2 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
2 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to comments