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'It won't happen': Rennie rules out Jones' Wallabies homecoming before RWC
The international rugby rumour mill was in full swing last month after super coach Eddie Jones was sensationally axed by the RFU just nine months out from this year’s World Cup.
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While there were murmurs about a potential role in the United States, and a stunning move to rugby league, there was one report which was especially intriguing for fans Down Under.
The Wallabies are coming off a disastrous campaign, as they slumped to just five wins from 14 test matches. A late try against Wales in Cardiff saw the men in gold avoid their worst season since 1958.
Under fire head coach Dave Rennie has not been axed by Rugby Australia, and is expected` to remain in charge through to the World Cup.
But that doesn’t mean he couldn’t use some help.
Jones, who is one of the greatest coaches in international rugby history, has been linked with a stunning return to Australian shores.
While the 62-year-old tried to downplay these rumours in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald last month, speculation continues to persist as the rugby guru remains a free agent.
As reported last month, Australian rugby journalist Tom Decent is “quietly confident” will return to the Wallabies setup in some capacity in the future – but in what role remains to be seen.
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However, ahead of a four-day training camp on the Gold Coast, head coach Rennie attempted to put any rumours to bed. Rennie ruled out working alongside Jones at this year’s World Cup.
“It won’t happen before (the World Cup),” Rennie said. “There’s a fair bit of speculation about a lot of things but my focus is on this group and the World Cup.
“Anything else happening beyond that will be clarified over the next few months.
“We’ve had no discussions around that. There’s no plan to make alterations to the coaching group at this stage.
“I haven’t spoken to Hamish (McLennan) and haven’t spoken to Andy (Marinos) about it. My assumption is we’re going to push on.”
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But Jones’ sacking could the start of an unprecedented international rugby coaching merry-go-round; there has never been so much uncertainty.
As reported by Australian website The Roar, Rennie has been linked with a move to Japan Rugby League One club Kobe Steelers after this year’s World Cup.
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster is also believed to be on his way to Japan following the sports premier event in France.
“All I’ll say is I haven’t signed with Kobe,” he added. “My focus is totally here. We’ve spent a big chunk of December when we got back doing reviews and World Cup planning.
“What happens beyond 2023 will probably be a bit clearer in the next few months.”
Rennie named his first Wallabies squad of the year a couple of days ago, with the team meeting for a training camp on the Gold Coast.
The 44-man squad includes uncapped loose forward Charlie Gamble, and injured duo Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi.
“What’s exciting for us is that over the past three years we’ve created genuine depth and competition of places,” Rennie said over the weekend.
“Of the 44 players, all bar two have worn the gold jersey over the past three year sand there’s also several fringe players who still have an opportunity to force their way into the next camp through strong Super Rugby form.
“We’ll use the four days to make sure all players head back to their franchises with a clear understanding on what will give them the best chance to representing their country in a World Cup year.”
Comments on RugbyPass
An on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould'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.
24 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.
24 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?
11 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.
11 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.
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