Eddie Jones plots Wallabies success with Digger spirit

Eddie Jones wants the Wallabies to draw inspiration from Australia’s Diggers at this year’s World Cup.

New Wallabies coach Eddie Jones. Picture: AFP

Eddie Jones says coaching the Wallabies again is the most important job he has ever taken and wants the team to draw inspiration from Australia’s Diggers at this year’s World Cup.

Jones says he will draw on Australia’s fighting spirit to help set the tone for team culture as they seek to capture the Webb Ellis Cup in France this September.

“I think what always ties Australians together is that Digger spirit, that is fighting for each other,” Jones said.

“And the question now is; how do you make that spirit relevant in a more diverse Australian society?”

Jones says the “Digger spirit” is relatable for someone like himself. His father, Ted, was a soldier in the Australian army in Japan following World War II and then again as a member of the troops supporting the US in Vietnam.

Jones hopes to weave that philosophy into the Wallabies culture by drawing on Australian war history – but is still in the planning phases of how exactly to do so.

“You know, my father fought in wars, so that image of fighting for your mate in the war is relevant to me,” Jones said. Adding; “But I haven’t fought in a war. My daughter hasn’t fought in a war. So we need to find a way to make that Digger spirit relevant for a more diverse society that Australia has become now.”

Jones has made no secret that he wants to win the World Cup in 2023 and plans to do that by bringing back “the Australian way” of playing rugby.

By that he means a “really tough, smart Australian” brand of rugby accompanied by a relentless, hard-working, gritty team attitude.

“People want to see that never-say-die attitude from a team,” Jones said.

“We have to play the Australian way to recapture those swinging rugby fans which is a big task but not insurmountable. And you … can change things very quickly in you know three or four weeks.”

Cam Murray.

Joseph Sua’ali’i.

Jones has an incredible win-loss record of 82 per cent at the four World Cups he has been part of. He was the head coach of Australia (2003) and England (2019) when each team reached a World Cup final.

Jones’ most recent book Leadership: Lessons From My Life in Rugby, details his own relentless work ethic and dedication to getting an edge in rugby. Jones is unafraid to think differently. In 2021 he hired a forensic psychiatrist to work with his coaching team on their communication skills.

Over the years Jones mined information from some of the best sports leaders and teams in the world as well as investment bankers, business CEOs, along with acting coaches and school teachers.

He thinks rugby can take something from the way Australian rugby league is played. Jones, raised in Sydney’s Matraville, is a lifelong South Sydney fan, and admires the NRL’s ferocity and skill level.

“I think rugby league is a fantastic game, and you know, the challenge we’ve got is to play rugby as good as the top level rugby league,” Jones said.

“And if we do that then we’ll have people who will have to lock the gates because there’ll be so many people wanting to come in.”

Jones says the game needs to aspire for lofty heights (to be a dominant football code in Australia) and in turn the talent may return or stay in the game.

He singled out Australian schoolboy rugby talent Cameron Murray as a case in point. Murray is now the captain of South Sydney but the opportunity to play for the Wallabies in the World Cup could be an option.

In his first iteration as Wallabies coach, Jones oversaw the code-hopping careers of dual internationals Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri and Andrew Walker. They injected energy into the sport, and got the turnstiles going as well.

“I think that’s what we need to aspire to be (the No`1 winter sport),” Jones said.

“There’s probably a big gap between where we are and where we need to be. But I think that should always be the aspiration.”

“To be the sport kids want to play. How do you do that? So that young kids growing up, like say the Cameron Murrays growing up, who play rugby league and rugby union. But the choice becomes obvious for him. He can play a game where he can have a professional career – like he does with Souths at the moment – but also he can then play on the biggest stage in the world.

“And you think about the World Cup, it’s the third biggest sporting event in the world, it’s going to be in Australia in 2027.

“You want young players to be wanting to play rugby … and at the moment there’s probably been a swing towards playing rugby league.”

Rugby Australia has a desire to recruit Roosters star and former rugby schoolboy star Joseph Sua’ali’i. He is off contract next year. Manly flyer Tolu Koula (2024) and Parramatta centre Will Penisini (2023) are also potential targets.

While Jones was linked to an NRL coaching return, the most successful World Cup coach said it wasn’t an option.

“It was never a possibility because no one offered me a job,” Jones said. “There’s definitely been sort of discussions along the way and I love rugby league.”

For a code fighting for relevance in a crowded marketplace dominated by AFL and rugby league, Jones sees it as a privilege to try and revitalise the game.

“I think whenever you get a chance to be involved in revitalising a national sport that you grew up with it’s a humbling and a real privilege,” Jones said.

“That’s the reason I want to come back and do it. I want to see Australian rugby robust, energetic, taking on AFL and rugby league and then on the world scene you know, playing a sort of rugby that, that no other country plays.”

“The number of messages I’ve got from people around the world saying; ‘we need Australia to be strong’. I think that’s very true. New Zealand needs Australia to be strong as Australia strong, that drives New Zealand to be better, New Zealand drives world rugby to be better. So there’s all these inter-relationships that we are an important part of and that opportunity is huge.”

Just over a year ago the RA Board amended the Giteau Law

It allowed a wider selection of overseas-based players for the Wallabies by cutting the Test threshold from 60 to 30 (or if a player has spent five years on a Super Rugby contract). It still only allows three overseas-based players on the Wallabies team.

Jones said he would like to discuss the Giteau Law further. He has had some preliminary discussions with RA chair and CEO Andy Marinos around the rule.

“We’ve had a number of chats. but the one thing big on this, it’s World Cup year. Who are our best players?”

There’s six test matches in front of Jones and he believes that this is enough time to make a difference. He has cited before an old adage from his mentor Bob Dwyer who has said; ‘if you can’t change a team in a week, you can’t coach’.

Jones admits “there’s a fair bit to do” but “that’s all right”.