So I am bitterly disappointed by our performance at the RWC. We are a better team than what we have showed. We aren't world champions by any means but we couldn't have had an easier pool or path to the qtr finals.
Eddie has a strong coaching record, but that includes times where he has crashed and burnt spectacularly, including with the Wallabies in 2005 and the Reds in 2007. So while Eddie can produce diamonds he can also produce rocks, and we (especially McLennan) should have known that. A friend of a friend played under Eddie in the mid 2000s and, while respecting Eddie's rugby brain, is highly critical of Eddie for his poor man management and lack of interpersonal skills. Its one of the reasons why Eddie always struggles keeping assistant coaches.
Eddie's decision to go for generational change a few weeks before the RWC was diabolical; as is his chopping and changing of captains and selections. The turnover in assistant coaches was also a warning sign, as was the selected replacements (too few with rugby credentials). You could see our team had low confidence and composure in our two losses. Instead of rallying when things went against us, we turned to a team of individuals, trying hard but going nowhere and getting frustrated. It was embarrassing to watch, but an obvious outcome from the preparation and selections.
It's all well and good for Eddie to put his hand up to take responsibility, but what does that mean if he doesn't resign? What will it take for him to resign if not our worst ever RWC performance and just a single win in 2023 (against Georgia FFS).
I don't really care if Eddie did or didn't talk to Japan in the last few weeks. Professional coaching is a cut throat game. No concerns from me as long as he was still 100% committed to the Wallabies for this RWC, which I think he was. My issue is what Eddie did with the Wallabies leading up to and into the RWC.
Judging by McLennan's post game remarks, he still sees Jones as a coaching messiah and has no regrets. That tells me he has learnt nothing and we should expect more of the same chaos going forward. That is an intolerable situation for me. And don't even get me started on the Suallii signing.
I actually think McLennan and Eddie are right in saying that things need to fundamentally change in Aus rugby. I just don't think either of them are the right people to lead us through those changes, in fact I think they have proven it over the last 3 months. I think Hamish should be first to go and (assuming Eddie doesn't go on his own accord) then let the new Chair decide what do to with the coaching panel. If nothing else, they have to scale back Eddie's autonomy.
One relatively quick change I think we should make is to open up wallaby selection to all Aus eligible players regardless of where they are playing. We worry too much about player drain, but there is quite a few examples now where our players have improved with the overseas experience. I just want our strongest team picked and I am prepared to watch a weaker Waratahs team (if thats possible) if that's the price to be paid.