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'I am absolutely gutted': Fans slam 'awful' and 'pathetic' Jones axing
Another traditional Test heavyweight has made a drastic change to their coaching setup in the hopes of turning their poor form around in time for next year’s World Cup.
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Earlier this week, the Welsh Rugby Union confirmed that legendary coach Warren Gatland would be replacing the under fire Wayne Pivac as Wales’ head coach.
It was a decision that was blasted by many fans on social media considering the World Cup is nigh on the horizon, with one supporter saying “Gatland may regret returning.”
But it was a decision that needed to be made.
International rugby is more competitive than ever before and Wales were clearly no longer playing at the level that was expected of them.
But oh, how the mighty have fallen.
New Zealand, Australia and England have all come under immense pressure this year following periods of unwanted results – but two of those teams have stuck by their coach.
Less than 24 hours ago it was confirmed that super coach Eddie Jones had been axed from his position as coach of the England men’s team, just nine months out from rugby’s biggest event.
England had not been playing at the level that they had just a few years ago, where they were undoubtedly the best team on the planet under Jones for an impressive stretch of games.
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But fast forward a few years, and England are coming off a dismal Autumn Nations Series. England started their campaign with a loss at home against Argentina, and only managed to win one Test in November.
While Jones’ replacement is still yet to be officially announced, fans have been left feeling “absolutely gutted” after hearing the news.
I am absolutely gutted this has happened to Eddie, I am a huge fan of his, you will be hard pushed to get anyone better, rant over!
— Christine Mcdonough (@Christi90076072) December 6, 2022
An amazing man, did wonders for the team. Big mistake letting him go, i know he will be missed.
— Leeroy (@Leeroybrown1973) December 6, 2022
Crazy decision. Can’t believe you sacked him 9 months before the WC with no successor secured.
— AMXV (@AMXV__) December 6, 2022
Not much of a thank you from the @RFU for sacking him before such a pivotal moment for rugby. England Men’s Rugby would a disaster without Eddie’s excellent coaching skills. They owe him a lifetime of gratitude and thanks. 👏🏼
— Nikki (@gllnkk) December 6, 2022
Thank you for everything Eddie. You took England to incredible hights so i think the fans and board should be forever grateful for that.
— Travis (@Travman9507) December 6, 2022
What a shame. Personally, I’d have stuck the course with him, it’s up to the players to perform after all.
— David Briscombe (@dbriscombe) December 6, 2022
You’ve missed the Autumn Nations Cup 🏆
Thank you Eddie. I would have preferred for you to have a crack at @rugbyworldcup next year, but the RFU have decided otherwise. One of the most successful @EnglandRugby coaches ever.— Ben Combes 🇬🇧🇺🇸💲🌍🎩🌳 (@ben_combes) December 6, 2022
I might be in a monority here but feel this maybe a mistake, Eddie is a big tournament coach and we are 9 months from a WC….
— GavR (@GAVRS83) December 6, 2022
It’s demoralising for the team, they need to be winning big games, it boosts confidence, boosts moral. The players were shadows of them self when playing for England. It was time for a set of new eyes and ears, new ideas ect. I have huge respect for Eddie, but it was time.
— Sam Bullock (@sam93bullock) December 6, 2022
Awful decision. How can people not see that nothing matters as long as you win a World Cup. He uses these four years to make sure we reach a World Cup final. Some years we’ve won things in those periods some years we haven’t. No one better suited than him for the role.
— Richard Bowes (@R_Bowes) December 6, 2022
Pathetic decision. Should have given him more time
— Sibusiso (@SbuOfficial) December 6, 2022
This is such a bad decision guys
— Stitchy 🔰 🔰 🔰 (@spank_man10) December 6, 2022
Big mistake before a World Cup
— Kurt hatch (@Kurt23Hatch) December 6, 2022
Wrong decision. All you will have now is further excuses if we don’t do well at the RWC. Should’ve held Eddie to his word about building for the RWC. After all, that’s what really matters.
— James Brennan (@JamesBrennan_) December 6, 2022
Thank you for everything Eddie. Genuinely sad to see him go, loved the way he coached and as the statement says, our most successful coach ever. All the best for the future. Thank you again.
— Travis (@Travman9507) December 6, 2022
Rugby Football Union CEO Bill Sweeney has praised Jones for his successful seven year tenure with England, which saw him record “the highest win ratio of any previous England men’s head coach.”
“It is important to recognise the huge contribution Eddie has made,” Sweeney said, as seen on England’s twitter page.
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He has the highest win ration of any previous England men’s head coach and has helped develop the leadership skills of many players and coaches.
“I am grateful to Eddie for all he has done across many areas of the game and the professional way in which he approached reviewing the performance of the team.”
During his decorated time in charge of England, Jones won three Six Nations titles, one Grand Slam, and made a Rugby World Cup final in 2019.
Comments on RugbyPass
Should've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to comments