'It's really poor': Eddie Jones criticises All Blacks coaching process
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has criticised New Zealand Rugby for their “poor” treatment of All Blacks boss Ian Foster.
Foster is still the All Blacks coach, for now, but his replacement has already put pen to paper with NZR.
Following months of rumours and speculation, NZR confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Crusaders coach Scott Robertson would succeed Foster in the All Blacks’ hot seat.
Robertson will take the coaching reins after this year’s World Cup in France, and will lead the national team through to the 2027 tournament in Australia.
With a smile on his face, Robertson fronted the media for the first time as the new All Blacks coach earlier this week.
All seemed right with the rugby world – NZR and the All Blacks had got their man, and supporters were left optimistic for the future.
But Robertson’s time in charge is still months away. The All Blacks have a job to do this year, and Foster will lead the team in the pursuit of rugby immortality.
With this year’s tournament just over five months away, Wallabies coach Eddie Jones described the announcement as “inappropriate.”
“I think it’s really poor how New Zealand Rugby have done it,” Jones said on his podcast Eddie.
“Ian Foster’s here now, he’s a good man and he’s given a lot to New Zealand Rugby as assistant coach and now head coach.
“I just think the timing’s inappropriate, leading into a World Cup, naming their coach beforehand just causes another distraction they don’t need.
“Maybe if they had their time again they’d handle it a little bit differently but… that seems to be the way of the world now.”
Rugby Australia flipped the rugby world on its head earlier this year when they confirmed that Dave Rennie had been replaced as Wallabies coach by Eddie Jones.
The legendary coach had previously been axed by the RFU as England’s boss, and was a free agent heading into a World Cup year.
“Having experienced both sides of it myself, it’s a changing world for professional coaches in rugby and we’re starting to move towards the football model of three games aren’t very good, your fourth better be good or you won’t be in the chair,” he added.
“You get the phone call, come to training, the chairman wants to meet you at 8am, and you know it’s not for avocado on toast.”
Eddie Jones’ staff has continued to take shape in Australia, with the Wallabies adding former England forwards coach Neal Hatley to the setup.
Hatley was part of Jones’ staff that led England to a Rugby World Cup final in Japan four years ago.
“I’m honoured to join Eddie and the Wallabies in what’s a massive year with the World Cup just over five months away,” Hatley said in a statement.
“While my focus is here with Bath at the moment, I know there’s plenty of potential within the playing group in Australia and I’m looking forward to maximising that when I begin the role.”
After returning to Australia’s shores, Jones will lead the Wallabies for the first time this year when they take on defending world champions South Africa at Loftus Versfeld.
Jones’ Wallabies will also play Argentina, New Zealand and France ahead of this year’s World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
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