‘No wounds’: Eddie Jones says he has moved on from his Wallabies departure on his return to Sydney

Eddie Jones was greeted warmly on his first visit back in Sydney since taking the head coaching role with Japan after his ugly exit from Australian rugby and says he carries no wounds.

EDDIE Jones says he carries no wounds following his ugly exit from Australian rugby, marking a warm return to Coogee Oval on Tuesday as his Japan under-23s team was beaten by Randwick in a thrilling match.

This was Jones’ first public appearance in Sydney since he took the head coaching role of Japan after leaving the Wallabies in 2023, and he was roundly greeted with handshakes and pats on the back from the estimated 2000 people gathered to watch the invitational tour game.

Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones at Coogee Oval with the Japan under-23 team. Picture: Nathan Smith

Asked if a positive moment like this could mend the wounds over his fractious departure, that followed Australia’s worst ever World Cup performance and continual denials from Jones that he’d been approached about the Japan job, the coach was nonchalant.

“I don’t have any wounds,” Jones said,

“You might have wounds. I don’t have any. What goes on, goes on, mate. You make decisions, you move on with it, people can think what they want.

“It doesn’t really affect me. I don’t have any wounds. I can sit pretty quietly at night and be comfortable with myself.”

Jones also said he had no fear of a nasty reception at the club he grew up playing for.

“Not at Randwick,” said Jones, as fellow club greats Gary Ella, Simon Poidevin and Morgan Turunui watched from the stands.

In a nailbiting finish, with the scores locked at 31-all, the Japanese under-23s side, made up entirely of university students not affiliated to any professional clubs, missed a regulation penalty goal with 15 seconds remaining.

Eddie Jones during his playing days with Randwick. Picture: Anthony Weate

Then after five minutes of back-end-forth attack, Randwick winger Christian Yassmin caught a cross-field kick and raced away to score the matchwinner.

For Jones, this was an important part of the development for Japanese rugby.

“I knew we had to do something different to give some young players an opportunity, and then we started talking, we had a relationship with Coffs Harbour, so we played two games up there, and then obviously having a game down at Randwick,” Jones said.

Griffith Uni Colleges Knights prop Lesi Tawake with Japan coach Eddie Jones. Picture: Supplied

“For a club like Randwick, to have a midweek game like this is great for their spirit, great to develop the club, and it gives opportunities for players to play at a different level.

“The (Japan players) are all completely amateur. They’ll go back and they’ll train, 90 kids will be on the field, they’ll train together. They’ve got no strength and conditioning support, they’re completely amateur.

“So it’s a fantastic experience for them.”

Jones said he has not paid attention to Australian rugby’s search for a new coach.

But he has been impressed by the transition of former NRL player Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

Jones has been impressed with what he has seen from Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“Joe (Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt) is a very good coach, and I think Suaalii’s come in and he’s like two players,” Jones said.

“I think some of those young guys are starting to come through, and some of the older guys have come back and played well. Tommy Wright, Jake Gordon have come back and played really well, so I think it’s promising for them.”

The Wallabies are expected to announce Les Kiss as the successor to Schmidt within a week. The first game for the new Wallabies coach will be against Jones’ Japan in Tokyo, in October.

While there are sure to be some twists and turns before that game, those who were at Coogee Oval on this overcast, crisp afternoon won’t soon forget the entertaining spectacle.

“I was born and bred as a club player so to come back to an occasion like this, it’s just fun, it’s good fun,” Jones said.

“We all started rugby because it was fun and you want to keep making it fun. Sometimes it’s difficult for it to be fun, so that’s the main thing.”

Originally published as ‘No wounds’: Eddie Jones says he has moved on from his Wallabies departure on his return to Sydney