Eddie Jones learns his Wallabies fate as Rugby Australia makes decision after disastrous World Cup campaign and loyalty row following Japan job interview

• Eddie Jones will not be axed by Rugby Australia 
• Jones has overseen a terrible World Cup campaign 
• He reportedly held talks with Japan over their top job 

Australian rugby bosses have doubled down on their commitment to retain Eddie Jones as head coach despite their woeful World Cup campaign.

Jones recently signed a four-year contract and Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh insisted they want him to stay on for the 2025 Lions tour and 2027 World Cup.

The Wallabies will crash out of the pool stages if Fiji pick up a bonus point against Australia on Sunday but Jones has been assured that his job is safe regardless.

‘We’re committed to Eddie in the commitment we made to him earlier in the year and we’ll go through the assessment of this campaign, said Waugh.

‘It’s been bitterly disappointing. We came here with a lot of hope and optimism. Everything is out of our hands. There’s a lot that has probably been declining with Australian rugby for some time, so I think it’s a result of a period where we are slipping more and more.

Eddie Jones will not lose his Wallabies job despite Australia’s terrible World Cup campaign

The Wallabies are on the brink of a humiliating pool stage exit in France

‘I’ve been pretty forthright around the fact we are committed to Eddie and he probably looks at the campaign and is bitterly disappointed about his performance and the Wallabies’ performance. It’s a pretty challenging world being a coach and I can understand that. Eddie has made his comments to me that he is committed. I’m not going to find out where conversations are occurring. I take Eddie for his word and he has told us there is nothing to it.’

Jones has been on the receiving end of widespread booing throughout the World Cup.

Asked how it made him feel, the head coach went on a tangent about the Television Match Official creating too many breaks in play for frustrated spectators.

‘It’s a big thing now to boo now,’ said Jones. ‘At least they know who I am, I suppose. Rugby has been a game based on values and fair play has been one of them. But I think the way we are refereeing the game or the way the game is being refereed is causing crowd problems.

But Rugby Australia chief Phil Waugh is backing Jones to develop the nation’s team

‘We’ve got so many stoppages in the game now – we’ve got a TMO for everything. I’m of the firm opinion that we are destroying the flow of the game. We need to make the referee the sole judge of the game, and if there is something that is an obvious red card, that is foul play, then we go back to that.

‘We’ve got to keep the game moving, and I think part of it is that the crowd are so discontent with the flow of the game. Our game is not a game of science. It’s not like cycling or rowing. It’s a human game based on the contest for the ball where we’ve got a number of problems in each situation.

‘I’ve said this before and it’s fallen on deaf ears but I will keep going because we’ve got to look after the game.’

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