‘We need to develop a harder edge’: Why Rugby Australia sacked Rennie

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan is adamant new Australia coach Eddie Jones has enough time to get the Wallabies on track to win this year’s World Cup and defended the governing body’s sudden decision to sack incumbent Dave Rennie, who will be precluded from coaching another team or country this year.

The Australian rugby landscape was tipped on its head on Monday morning, with the announcement that Rennie had been sacked with immediate effect. Jones had already been lined up for a lucrative five-year deal to take the Wallabies through to the 2027 World Cup.

McLennan defended the decision to make what is a bold move in a World Cup year, saying he felt he had to act on the chance to sign Jones after he was sacked by England late last year.

“There’s more of a risk not doing something about it when the opportunity presented itself,” McLennan told the Herald in his first interview on Monday since the news broke. “We stumbled during the spring tour. The world changed when Eddie got let go.”

Jones is in the UK and will officially begin with Australian rugby on January 29, with an appearance on the final day of the Sydney Sevens at Allianz Stadium.

He will double as the head coach of the Wallabies and also oversee the Wallaroos program, although McLennan said Jones would not be paid extra to be involved in the women’s program.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan. Credit: AFR

It is 20 years since Jones led the Wallabies to the 2003 World Cup final against England in Sydney. He was sacked by the Australian Rugby Union in 2005.

McLennan said Jones had told him he had long yearned for an opportunity to return to the Wallabies and a home British and Irish Lions series in 2025, coupled with the 2027 World Cup in Australia had proved too tantalising a prospect for him to pass up.

It is a brutal end to Rennie’s time as Wallabies coach, which began in 2020 and ended with a 38 per cent win record – the worst of any Australian coach in the professional era.

Jones issued a statement on Monday, shortly after news broke of his fresh deal. He said he was optimistic about Australia’s chance of emulating the 1999 Wallabies side who last lifted the Webb Ellis Cup.

“If we can have everyone fit and healthy going into the World Cup this year, I am confident that we can go to France and break the 24-year drought of winning the Rugby World Cup,” Jones said.

Asked if he agreed with Jones, given the short time frame, McLennan said: “Absolutely. We have enough time to get it right.

Eddie Jones has been to the Rugby World Cup as a head coach with Australia, Japan and England.Credit: Getty

“The team has made progress but we need to develop a harder edge. There’s no more experienced campaigner out there than Eddie. We had to take advantage of that. He’s ruthless and tough and has that twinkle in his eye.

“The profile of rugby has gone through the roof already and fans, sponsors and players will react accordingly.”

McLennan declined to go into detail about the moment RA chief executive Andy Marinos and board member Phil Waugh told Rennie his services were no longer required.

Wallabies players and staff were told on Monday morning, as well as RA staff.

“It’s always difficult but Dave is a terrific person and we sincerely thank him for his efforts,” McLennan said.

When England sacked Jones, he was free to find work with another team or country.

RA was curious to see whether Jones would be on the open market or whether he would be banned from taking another role in the form of a non-compete clause.

However, RA has ensured that Rennie cannot coach elsewhere. His contract will be paid out but he will be on “gardening leave” for the remainder of the year.

Asked about the RFU’s decision to let Jones explore options elsewhere, McLennan replied: “We wouldn’t allow that to happen [if we were in their position].”

The decision could come back to haunt England, given they might face the Wallabies in a World Cup quarter-final. It would be some story if Jones was pitted in a sudden-death match against the country who sacked him after more than six years in the top job.

The other alternative is an Australian and Argentina quarter-final fixture, where Jones could square off against another former Wallabies coach in Michael Cheika.