Former Wallabies and Brumbies coach Eddie Jones believes Jake White is the man to take Australia to the next Rugby World Cup.
Speaking to the Fairfax Media, Jones said he felt incumbent Wallaby coach Robbie Deans’ inability to beat the All Blacks during his six-year tenure in the position was a major stumbling block, and hinted that the ARU should start looking to replace him.
“Knocking off the Kiwis should be the initial goal, which would give the Wallabies the chance of winning another World Cup,” Jones said.
Jones said that Deans’ inconsistent game plan was the reason for the Wallabies’ patchy form.
Jones named White and Ewen McKenzie as the leading contenders to replace Deans, but gave White a slight edge.
With the next World Cup only two years away, Jones said Australia needed a coach that could produce results quickly and turn the teams’ fortunes around in a short space of time.
”I think Jake’s a standout for that position because he’s shown he can get a team together quickly, he’s shown he’s a good selector, he understands the principles of the game very clearly,”
”In about 18 months, Jake has taken a group of largely unknown players and turned them into genuine Super Rugby title contenders,” Jones said.
“The Brumbies are fit, they’re strong, they’ve got a good set piece and they’ve got a good defence… and Jake’s shown he can do that in a short period of time.”
Jones previously worked as an assistant coach to White during South Africa’s 2007 World Cup-winning campaign.
The Brumbies currently sit at the top of the Super Rugby table and lead the Australian Conference.
Prior to their loss to the Stormers, the team was on a high with four straight wins and seven consecutive victories on the road – a Super Rugby record.