Eddie Jones, the former head coach of the England rugby team, has officially been appointed as the new head coach of Japan. In an interview, Jones expressed that he does not feel any guilt over the process that led to his new role, despite having previously resigned as the head coach of Australia just six weeks prior.
According to Jones, he did not have a job lined up after his time with Australia, and he denied having interviewed for the Japan job before the World Cup. He clarified that he was asked by a recruitment agency to share his experiences with Japan, and that any initial interview he had was in December. Despite the backlash, Jones remains resolute in his stance, stating, “I don’t feel any guilt at all about this process.”
Jones’ time with Australia was marred by poor performance, with the team only securing two wins out of nine games under his leadership. The Wallabies suffered defeats at the hands of Wales and Fiji in Pool C of the World Cup, leading to their failure to advance to the knockout rounds for the first time in their history. Despite initially expressing his commitment to Australia, Jones ultimately decided to step down, citing the lack of support from Rugby Australia and expressing his well wishes for the team’s future.
However, not all have been supportive of Jones’ ascension to his new role. Former New Zealand international Sonny Bill Williams has accused Jones of lying about his involvement with Japan before the World Cup, labeling his actions as a “disgrace”. Williams expressed his sympathy for the Japan team and emphasized the negative impact of Jones’ track record on the sport.
Overall, Eddie Jones’ appointment as the new head coach of Japan has sparked a mixture of reactions, with some questioning the integrity of the process and others expressing support for the experienced coach. As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, only time will tell what the future holds for Jones and the Japan rugby team.