‘What a disgrace’: SBW slams Jones after Japan job confirmation

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Dual code great Sonny Bill Williams has slammed Eddie Jones as “a disgrace” after the worst kept secret in world sport was confirmed with Japan’s appointment of the former Wallabies coach on Wednesday night.

Just 45 days after quitting the Wallabies, and following multiple denials of having had any contact with the Japan Rugby Football Union, the JRFU announced Jones would be returning as their head coach on a four-year deal.He was previously coach of Japan from 2012-2015.

This masthead revealed on September 24 that Jones had taken part in a Zoom interview with the JRFU on August 25, while in Paris with the Wallabies and just a few weeks out from the start of the Rugby World Cup.

Jones flatly denied having been on the Zoom call, and over the next few months then repeatedly denied, or deflected, any questions about having had any contact with the JRFU or recruitment companies representing them.

The announcement of Jones’ appointment on Wednesday night thus prompted widespread derision on social media.

Williams, who was a strident critic of Jones in commentary duties for Stan Sports throughout the Wallabies’ disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign, slammed the newly appointed Japan coach as being “full of crap”.

Sonny Bill Williams and Eddie JonesCredit: Getty

“It’s quite sad, isn’t it? My thoughts on this whole saga is that he lied,” Williams told Wide World of Sports.

“Obviously he lied to the players, he lied to the public, he lied to the Australian rugby union. What a disgrace. I guess that’s my first point.”

Williams told this masthead last month he found Jones’ denials “comical”.

“Obviously, he had that meeting,” Williams said. “It says a lot about his character to be honest. It’s comical. I still can’t believe it. I saw straight through his antics and his big-talking. This is a bloke who has a track record of burning bridges. The things that he’s done … if he was a player, you wouldn’t stand for it. It’s quite nice that they are being held accountable, just like players are.”

Eddie Jones oversaw the Wallabies’ worst Rugby World Cup result.Credit: Getty

Williams, a two-time Rugby World Cup winner, also told Wide World of Sports he felt sorry for Japan.

“His track record speaks for itself. I’m a big believer in the proof is in the pudding and what is his proof? His proof is he’s been fired, sacked from England in the last few years. He’s burned a lot of bridges,” he said. “I actually feel sorry for Japan that they believe this guy is gonna take them somewhere where his track record shows that he hasn’t been able to do. It seems like he’s a little bit out of touch with what’s going on.

“I guess I’m just speaking from an ex-player’s point of view. I could never believe in someone that I knew was pretty much full of crap. Japanese culture is all built on respect, loyalty, things that he’s shown that he’s not about.”

Williams added there were positives for Australian rugby, because Jones’ departure has allowed the game to “move on” and rebuild a successful Wallabies team.

“They have great talent within the squad, I truly believe it,” he said. “Does he owe Rugby Australia, the public, an apology? I’d say they should be thanking him because he’s left and hopefully things can change.”

Former England player Andy Goode also weighed in on the Jones’ new with a post on X, linking to a clip from this masthead detailing the multiple occasions Jones denied speaking to the JRFU.

“Absolutely never spoken to them maaaate! Nek minnit Eddie Jones gets the Japan job! A man you can never trust!” Goode posted.

Former All Blacks coach John Mitchell, who was a defence coach with England under Jones in 2019 before quitting in acrimonious circumstances, also sledged Jones’ trustworthiness.

After being unveiled as the new coach of England’s women’s team through to 2025, Mitchell was asked by English media if he would potentially leave the job to take a higher-profile role in men’s rugby, Mitchell said: “I’m not an Eddie Jones. That’s just not going to happen.”

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