Sacking Eddie Jones would be “the worst thing” Australia could do despite their troubles at the Rugby World Cup, says former captain Stirling Mortlock.
The Wallabies face group-stage elimination at the tournament for the first time after being hammered 40-6 by Wales on Sunday.
Having already lost to Fiji, Australia’s chances of securing the top-two Pool C spot they need to progress are slim.
Jones, who was only appointed Australia coach in January, is taking much of the heat for the poor performances of the two-time world champions.
He has also been criticised following a story in the Sydney Morning Herald on the morning of the Wales game that he had secretly interviewed for the Japan coaching role just weeks before the World Cup started. Jones denied that was true in his media conference after the Wales defeat.
Australia have also fallen to a record low of 10th in World Rugby’s rankings after their defeat. The Wallabies have never previously been lower than ninth in the standings, with Argentina having overtaken them.
While describing the Wales match as a “train wreck” for Australia, Mortlock backed Jones to stay in charge of a young Wallabies side and lead them into the 2027 World Cup, which Australia are hosting.
“Eddie as a coach and leader is accountable, and he says this,” Mortlock told the BBC’s Rugby Union Daily podcast. “I respect him that he wears it.
“But the worst thing Australia can do is get rid of him, to say you’re not the best man for the job after only six months. Back your man, you picked him for a reason.
“It’s about the next four years of rugby in our country. He rolled the dice with youth for this World Cup – maybe if Australia were in what was perceived as a tougher pool, he would not have done this.”
Australia trailed 29-6 after 50 minutes against Wales, their chances of salvaging the match all but gone.
“It was like a train wreck,” Mortlock said. “You hoped it wasn’t going to come, but it was. After 50 minutes, it was one-way traffic. I have been on the pitch when that has happened, you cannot just turn it around.
“I feel for the players, for the Australians who have made the trip over – sometimes that happens.
“Tier-one nations, it is not definite you will get to the quarter-finals, the gap between tier one and tier two is diminishing which is a great thing for World Cups.” (BBC Sport)
