I’M READY TO GET REVENGE ON ENGLAND!
Eddie sets sights on knocking former side out of World Cup
EDDIE JONES has his sights set on ‘retribution’ — as he is already looking ahead to the prospect of his Australia side knocking England out of this year’s World Cup.
The man who was sacked by the RFU last month after seven years as head coach of England is preparing to head home on Friday, to start his second stint in charge of the Wallabies.
When he was dismissed by the powers-that-be at Twickenham after a dire autumn campaign, fears were raised that he could come back to haunt England, and that’s his objective.
Having been free to accept the job offer from Rugby Australia after the RFU decided not to put any employment restrictions in his severance deal, Jones is relishing the possibility of a knockout showdown in the south of France. However, he is unlikely to exchange too many pleasantries
with his recent union bosses. ‘I’m thinking about retribution, because the most important thing is to get Australia playing really consistently well,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘If we happen to meet England on the way, well and good. I might have a conversation with some of the players and not with the administration. Then we will get on with the battle. You could maybe pick it now — the quarterfinal (Australia v England) could be in Marseille.’
In a later interview with Sky Sports News, Jones added: ‘In a World Cup quarter or semi or whatever, it’s going to be fun.
‘I’ve got a lot of respect for English rugby and for the players. The saddest thing about being sacked is, in a lot of ways, it means the end of your relationship with the players.’
Reflecting on his abrupt demise as England head coach, the 62-year- old said: ‘ There is obviously still a tinge of disappointment you don’t get to finish a project. There was a difference of opinion. I felt that we were where we needed to be, but the RFU did not — which is their prerogative so I don’t hold any recriminations against them.
‘The longer you’re in the job, the more exposed you are to being sacked, particularly at that level. When you’re not meeting the expectations of yourself, the team, the union, and the fans, you know there are going to be problems. The wind changes a bit and the way people look at you.
‘When you’ve been in the game a while you realise you’re getting closer to the end than you’d like to be. I didn’t want to hang on. I wanted to do the job with their (RFU) support and the support had gone so it was a good decision for both.’
Jones revealed that once he had been sacked by the RFU, Rugby Australia made a swift approach — after revealing to Sportsmail their intention to draw on his World Cup expertise — and he couldn’t resist the mission.
‘ You’re always interested in coaching your country,’ he said. ‘It’s almost like it was meant to happen. Having the opportunity in a potentially golden era for Australian rugby is incredible.’