By Williams was left stunned during the World Cup by this masthead’s reports that Jones had taken part in a Zoom interview on August 25 for the vacant Japan head coaching role while he was in camp with the Wallabies.
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This masthead also revealed in September that Jones had a second interview lined up, despite the Wallabies coach telling senior RA officials he was committed to Australia until his contract expired in 2027.
Jones resigned last month, less than 10 months into a five-year deal, and has since admitted he is “definitely” interested in the Japan job.
The 63-year-old has a second interview lined up in Japan next month but has publicly denied being involved in a formal process.
McLennan, who was ousted as RA chairman on Sunday night, took Jones’ assurances at the time that he had not been interviewed and did not ask Japan officials about the matter.
“If it is true that he did that … that’s terrible and appalling … especially when you’re leading into a World Cup and your focus should be on the team,” McLennan said on 2GB on Monday. “He denied it and his agent said it was completely untrue. If he did do it, terrible form.”
Sonny Bill Williams at the Rugby World Cup in France.Credit: Getty
On his way out, Jones caused a major stir by saying that Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley and Quade Cooper were not picked for the World Cup because they were not the right models for the team.
“I found those comments disgusting,” Williams said. “I was really upset for those lads. The sad thing was that he couldn’t just leave with dignity. He had to leave with some firing shots by calling Hooper, Foley and Quade not role model material? What does that make him?
“I see this as the reset Australian rugby needs. Phil Waugh is talking about some really good things, especially strategies into Western Sydney. As rugby fans we all want to believe in something.
“Transparency is key. With the talent Australia has, something special could happen. I love the idea of bringing everything under the one umbrella from Rugby Australia [via centralisation]. The only way is up.”
Jones has close ties with Japanese president Masato Tsuchida and conceded this week that his friend did not want to be seen to be doing any favours for the Australian.
“He was the first Suntory coach that I had an association with and that is probably a bit of a stumbling block because he wants to run his own race,” Jones said on The Bye Round podcast. “He doesn’t want to be [accused] of favouritism. I’ll just wait and see. I reckon they’ll do something in the next couple of months.”
Asked if he’d “signed on”, Jones said: “Not yet.”
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“Conversations go on all the time,” Jones added. “Agents ring you up. You know what it’s like. If I was intending to go somewhere else, why would I take a young squad [to the World Cup]? Unless I’m a lunatic – which I’m probably close to – but [I am] not a full-blown lunatic.
“I have been a consultant for Suntory in Japan since 1996. I’ll go back and start doing a bit with them in Japan and then just wait and see.”
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