This could well be a first for me ToO, but I have to disagree with you
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And agree with Mb64 regarding Eddie Jones being a success as Wallabies coach.
As I understand it the European tour was simply the last straw (England specifically) for the ARU, as there had been multiple problems within Camp Wallaby for a few years before now. Particularly a fued between ARU CEO Gary Flowers and Eddie Jones which erupted in South Africa (where Eddie has never had a victory) earlier this year.
The World Cup was great (and devestating, sitting in the stands, watching that ball go through the uprights) but it was a stand alone result. The team had been absolutely shocking in the matches leading up to the RWC in 2003. I remember watching them being beaten by the All Blacks in the Bledisloe earler that year by close to 50 points. Not a great team and other than that event (RWC) nothing has changed and that is the problem.
Results alone are not the deciding factor. Jones's relience on statistics and figures, rather than either form or passion and his total unwillingness to change the way he thinks, I believe, were big factors in his demise. While a certain amount of analysis is definately required in all sport, Jones tended to base all play and selection decisions on stats, which clearly were not working for him, rather than letting the players play the game.
There were forwards lost in the backline (constantly), slowing the play down, very little effort or education put into scrummaging (Lilycrap definately not the answer), a forward pack that has become an international joke (not just the front three either), backs playing permanently out of position or out of form, no passion, confidence or spark in the playing side, ignoring the HPU chief, who wanted more youth blooded and an alternative to Gregan found, and definately no youngsters being brought through the ranks, among other issues, all contributed to the poor recent form.
A number of under-21 rep players were taken on tour (Shephard, Huston, Palato-Nao) and only a couple actually got minimal game time. That is not developing the future of the sport, which it desperately needs. And honestly I think that if Jones had given a few more of the kids a run and loosened the grip on his calculator a little, even if the team had still lost, he may have been given a bit of breathing room.
Look at what New Zealand were able to do - they won a Grand Slam with four completely different teams, not playing their best all the time, they made half a dozen or so debuts, and everyone who went on the tour played in at least one of the tests. Now, they do have superior depth at the moment (Aussie domestic rugby problems for another day) but it was the attitude of the All Black coaching staff that impressed me the most. They seemed willing (if not able) to let a possible Grand Slam win slip, to bring on the kids for the future, most importantly the 2007 World Cup. This is not something Australian rugby has done in a very long time.
Add to that the total, unqualified and ridiculous loyalty to Gearge Gregan, who has been great for Australian rugby, but was a minimum of 6 months past his used by date at the time of the tour. His form has ranged from very ordinary to total crap and Jones never bit the bullet to replace him with fresher legs, whether that be Whittaker or (preferably) Henjak. Both of whom actually got dropped along with Giteau, while they all showed better form than Gregan.
On a side note the fact that Gregan has said absolutely nothing since Jones's sacking speaks volumes in my opinion about the relationship between the two. Gregan should be condemned because of one of the most appalling acts imaginable by an Australian sporting captain - a heartless silence on the sacking of a coach who had made your position untouchable. Jones stuck by Gregan, but George was no where to be seen over the last couple of weeks.
While I think that getting rid of Jones (and Gregan) is a necessity for the future of Australian rugby, I didn't really like the way it was handled. I think that out of respect, Jones (as Wallaby coach for the past four years) should have been given the opportunity to at least state his case to the board, rather than being somewhat unceremoniously dumped. I also think that he handled the press wonderfully after his sacking.
But as I said earler results are not the only guide to whether the coach has been a success or not. Success against who and where would be much more telling in the overall scheme of things. He has a successful winning ratio but how does he fare against our Tri-Nations rivals? I can't imagine it being particularly positive. I don't think Jones has ever won a Bledisloe Cup or a Tri-Nations trophy. Winning against Italy or a travelling Wales is great, but probably not the best indicator of where we sit as an international rugby force, which is what the Wallabies damn well should be.
Jones was a competant Wallaby coach, but this tour was not his first failure, and the choice of his successor will be interesting (my money is on Nucifora) but he unfortunately does not compare to Rod McQueen, who struggled at the beginning of his tenure until he worked through the problems left behind by the late Greg Smith, but McQueen just seemed to manage the team as well as the play book with more style. I am just grateful that he is on the panel how will choose our next coach.
At the end of the day, a number, if not all of these problems are the sole responsibility of the coach (including possible attitude problems) and therefore the Wallabies were in my opinion, not being coached in a way that would win them games. This always leads to the end of the head coach.
Just my opinion ;D !!!