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Eddie Jones’ fate will not be known until midway through this week despite a report that he is about to be sacked by the Rugby Football Union as England’s men’s head coach.
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported Jones and the RFU were due to split on Monday, UK time, nine months before the World Cup in France. Jones’ former right-hand man Steve Borthwick, who has worked alongside the Australian in the past two World Cup campaigns including their run to the final in 2019 with England, has long been favoured to take over.
The RFU’s board is set to convene on Tuesday to ratify its decision on Jones’ future.
A public announcement will then be made midway through the week to reveal whether he will be given the chance to continue until the World Cup when his eight-year reign is contracted to end or if the RFU is to appoint an alternative.
If, indeed, Jones has been sacked, he will end his seven-year association with the RFU as England’s most successful coach on a win-loss metric. From 81 Tests in charge of England, he has 59 wins, 2 draws and 10 losses (73 per cent winning record).
He also led England to the World Cup final in 2019, three Six Nations crowns, including a grand slam in 2016, and equalled New Zealand’s record of 18 consecutive victories in 2017.
Yet, it is understood by The Roar, Jones was preparing to present to RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney and an independent panel less than 12 hours before the SMH published its report that Jones was gone.
It is understood Jones, who presented to a panel on Monday at 1pm GMT, wants to fight on and is hellbent on delivering the plan, which the RFU supported, and bringing it to fruition at next year’s World Cup.
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It is also understood Jones would have no issue working with Borthwick again, having previously successfully worked with the former England captain at Japan and England.
By bringing Borthwick – the former England second-row and captain – back into the picture, it would allow the RFU to show that they are listening to disgruntled fans and stakeholders, who were left furious by Jones’ comments following their first loss to the Springboks at home in eight years when he said he “doesn’t care what people think”.
Should the RFU have already pulled the trigger on Jones, it would follow the same path the then-Australian Rugby Union walked in 2005 when CEO Gary Flowers sacked the Australian as Wallabies coach without the chance to present to the board.
Borthwick, who led Leicester Tigers to a stunning premiership in his first season in charge, has long been linked to the role.
Eddie Jones is preparing to present to a RFU panel despite a report stating he has been sacked. Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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Insiders say he was to be appointed as Jones’ replacement following the 2023 World Cup, but should the Australian be sacked it is highly likely he could be signed immediately.
Warren Gatland – the highly decorated British and Irish Lions coach, who oversaw Wales to two semi-final appearances from three World Cups – is another candidate, who would be thought of only as a short-term option through to the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Rugby Australia is watching closely the events unfolding in London, with Jones well-liked and respected by many powerbrokers at Moore Park.
That should not come as a great surprise. After all, the Australian holds a 10-1 win record against the Wallabies and recently led England from a come-from-behind series win in July.
That does not mean Dave Rennie is under any more pressure than he already was, but the New Zealander is still expected to coach the Wallabies through to the World Cup despite his own troubles in 2022.
What happens beyond next year’s World Cup is far from certain, but Jones remains a strong candidate to take over in 2024 despite being linked to the USA coaching role.
Wallabies assistant coach Dan McKellar, who called time on his association with the Brumbies earlier this year, is someone RA wants to continue to evolve.
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Six-time Super Rugby-winning coach Scott Robertson is also highly regarded by RA, but any suggestions that the Crusaders coach would be a shoo-in post-2023 are unfounded.
