Wallabies great Simon Poidevin believes that Rugby Australia (RA) should take the opportunity to bring Eddie Jones back to the country and aid the beleaguered Dave Rennie.
Jones was dismissed by the Rugby Football Union on Tuesday after presiding over a disappointing 2022 which saw England win just five of their matches.
The 62-year-old is reported to have received around £700,000 in compensation and is free to take up another job immediately.
Interested in speaking to Jones
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the governing body are interested in speaking to Jones over a potential position.
Rennie is expected to remain in his role until the end of the Rugby World Cup in France, but Poidevin believes that RA should bring Jones in to help the Wallabies head coach.
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“I think RA have made it clear they respect Dave Rennie taking the team through to the 2023 World Cup,” he told the Herald.
“That doesn’t stop a guy of Eddie’s experience, like he did [at the 2007 World Cup] with South Africa, coming in to provide his expertise. He helped the Springboks get that victory. That’s an option which Rugby Australia should be thinking about with Eddie.
“His most valuable input would be a sounding board for Dave Rennie and his relatively young coaching staff. He’s been through it all.
“He knows the challenges of knockout tournaments. In France it’s going to be highly intense given the number of quality teams around the world now.”
Under pressure
Rennie remains a man under pressure, despite their come-from-behind victory over Wales which provided some positivity in an otherwise disappointing campaign.
The New Zealander has struggled to put the Wallabies on the right track after taking the job following the 2019 World Cup.
He has just a 38 per cent win rate and a poor competition in France will certainly see him replaced at the end of 2023.
It means that Jones could be the next head coach of Australia, according to Poidevin, if he doesn’t agree a deal with the governing body prior to the upcoming global tournament.
“If he doesn’t want to come over for a World Cup position with the Wallabies, then it should be foot down by Rugby Australia to sign him to coach the Wallabies (in 2024) and try and win the World Cup in 2027,” he added.