Phil Waugh’s press conference on Eddie Jones’ exit leaves more questions than answers
If Wallabies fans tuned into Phil Waugh’s press conference on Tuesday, they would have left with more questions than answers, so what exactly is the state of Rugby in Australia?
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Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh fronted the media to explain the demise of coach Eddie Jones and where to now for the besieged Wallabies off the back of their disastrous World Cup campaign.
But if Wallabies fans tuned in to the 35-minute press conference, they would’ve walked away with more questions than answers.
Here’s a look at some of the key answered – and unanswered – questions about the state of Rugby in Australia.
Has Eddie Jones received any payout after quitting just one-year into a five-year deal?
It’s the million dollar question and although Phil Waugh claimed he was being open and transparent by fronting the media, his fumbled answer suggests Jones departed with some but not all of his entitlements.
“I think I’ve been fairly transparent around the fact that Rugby Australia has ended up in a very good situation financially through the (departure),” Waugh said.
“I really admire Eddie for the way he’s handled the process to where we’ve ended up.
“Certainly the way he conducted himself and understanding the circumstances of where Rugby Australia is, it was a good outcome for Rugby Australia and a sensible outcome.”
Given Jones was expected to be paid about $1.2m a year from next season, his decision to walk away only adds further fuel to the expectation he is waltzing straight into the head coaching job at Japan next year.
So, why did Jones and Rugby Australia agree to part ways if he was so committed to the future?
It’s clear since the end of the World Cup, the coach wanted to turbo charge the way forward while RA is aware of the need to coax the Super Rugby franchises to co-operate and work within some challenging financial limits.
The centralisation model remains a work in progress and the funding required to execute quick and clear changes was not as forthcoming as Jones had hoped – particularly once the golden saviour of privatisation was taken from the future planning.
“On the back of the (World Cup) performances, where Eddie’s viewed the process and speed of centralisation and the finances available to him, I think that as a game, as an organisation, we’ve ended up in a really sensible position (deciding to part ways),” Waugh said.
With coach and code no longer firmly aligned on the exact path forward, only one solution remained.
“In regards to Eddie, I think we’ve come to a sensible conclusion, both for Eddie and for Rugby Australia,” Waugh said.
“We announced the (future direction) plan in August, and we’ll continue on that path to execute that plan.
“Financially, we’re in a challenging position, but we do have a path forward on the finances, and most importantly as a game we need to come together.
“I think the way he’s handled this process has been admirable and obviously we wish him all the best.
“We’ve got a job to do here and we’ve got a lot of ground to make up with building trust with our stakeholders, with the community and we’re ultimately responsible and we need to rebuild that trust and our focus will be on reconnecting with the Australian public.”
Jones signed a five-year deal but has left after less than one year – how does Rugby Australia consider that a “sensible” outcome?
“Well suitable in the fact of where we were at in terms of performances, his vision of the speed in which we can execute centralisation, and his belief in access to finances and funding,” Waugh said.
“And so I think that we’ve been quite transparent and Eddie’s been quite transparent that it wasn’t about the money in the fact that he’s walked away.
“As to where we’re at financially, and certainly with the relationship and the trust that we need to build with our stakeholders, it was very, very important that we didn’t end up in a situation where it was very expensive for us to part ways.”
Why didn’t Rugby Australia ever take the Japanese link to Jones seriously?
This remains the biggest unanswered question of the entire debacle.
If a rival organisation is actively trying to poach your leader – as has been suggested with allegations Jones had a zoom interview with Japan prior to the World Cup – then surely you want a clear and direct answer.
Waugh and Jones seem to be aligned on pushing the “never doubting his commitment to Australia” line, but it’s still not a clear answer on why Rugby Australia never asked more serious questions about the biggest story of the entire World Cup campaign.
“I know that there has been some level of criticism around how we’ve handled this and should we have called the Japanese – I genuinely don’t think that that level of inquiry is required from me,” Waugh said.
“I’ve got a very good relationship with all the national unions and the Japanese national union. And I took Eddie on his word.
“I’ve seen some of the responses that you’ve asked and there hasn’t been the clearest (answers) in response. Whether that’s true or not I don’t think that changes the position we are in right now.”
Should people on the board and those running the game be held responsible for the abject failure of the World Cup and Eddie Jones debacle?
While the decision to sack Dave Rennie in January to appoint Eddie Jones has been labelled a ‘captain’s call’ and orchestrated by chairman Hamish McLennan, Waugh was quick to point out he too was part of the Rugby Australia board when the decision was given the green light.
So, will anyone in a position of power, take the fall as a result of the disastrous year?
“Certainly, the performances on the back of the decisions that were made were not what any of us had anticipated,” he said.
“As CEO, it’s not my place to comment on that. What I will say is that the administrators and the board are as disappointed with the performances and the outcome as everyone else. It’s been really disappointing and we are responsible.
“Ultimately, the board’s responsible for those decisions and there’s no hiding from that.
“It’s speculation or hypothetical, where would we have been had we not had made that call and had Dave (Rennie) stayed on – we’ll never know.
“But clearly the performances of the team and the results that we delivered weren’t up to the expectation of anyone and clearly the lowest that we’ve had in a World Cup.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I think that when you make decisions at any time, during your career, you get presented information at the time and you make decisions based on that information.
“It may have been different, it may not have been different. It’s a decision that we have to live with and it’s a disappointing result.”
Why then is the chairman Hamish McLennan not back facing these questions?
This has been the other major criticism of Rugby Australia, with McLennan still yet to return from Paris almost a month after the Wallabies campaign ended.
The optics are dreadful.
A chairman still in France enjoying the final weeks of a World Cup campaign – reportedly hosting lavish parties catered by world renowned chefs – while the fallout to the lowest moment in his sport’s history unfolds back home.
“Hamish was at the World Rugby awards last night,” Waugh said.
“There’s been a lot of very significant meetings in France over the last week, which a lot of it’s been around the world rugby calendar. The timing of the (2027) Rugby World Cup and shifting the window of the Rugby World Cup from the middle of September to the start of October is actually really significant for our market – having rugby league and AFL grand finals (in that window), having clear air is really important.
“So there’s a lot of very, very important conversations and things that have been occurring in France over the last period of time.”
What is the time frame around appointing the next Wallabies coach?
First there must be a review – it’s why Eddie Jones is actually contracted for another few weeks rather than immediately severing ties as they want his input into the fallout of what went wrong at the World Cup.
Then they must appoint a panel to select the next coach. Then, if you look at some of the candidates who may be tied to club deals, there will be negotiations for securing the new coach.
The Wallabies don’t play again for nine months, but given the importance of centralisation and the new way forward, time is of the essence.
While some believe only an Australian should be the Wallabies coach – particularly after the failed campaigns of Dave Rennie and Robbie Deans – Waugh made it clear nationality is not a prerequisite for the job.
This means the likes of All Blacks coach Ian Foster – who led New Zealand to the final despite getting the sack a year ago – is a clear candidate alongside people like Michael Cheika, Stephen Larkham, Dan McKellar and Darren Coleman.
“The most important aspect is getting the right coach, however long that takes” Waugh said,
“We want to make sure that we get the right panel together. And once we get that panel together, then run a process.
“Our next Test is not until July next year so we have time.
“It may take some time, but the most important element is getting the right coach.
“Historically, I think that we’ve made decisions quickly. And the most important aspect is to make the right decision.”
But really, after this past year, who would want the gig?
“If you look at the runway that we have and the opportunity of the 2025 Lions series, home World Cup in 2027, then I think it’s a really good opportunity for any aspiring coach,” Waugh said.
“And, you know, I think that coaches are pretty ambitious.
“I look at our talent across the system. We’ve got work to do in retaining good quality talent through pathways … but I think it’s a pretty attractive role for top coaches.”
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