The Rugby Australia chairman said his family were shocked by the “ugly” and “embarrassing” exchange, which occurred the night after Australia’s defeat to Wales at the World Cup.
It was during dinner with his wife and in-laws at a restaurant in Lyon that Hamish McLennan, the chairman of Rugby Australia, came face-to-face with the menacing personal consequences of the Wallabies’ wretched World Cup campaign.
But he says the vitriol directed at him for investing in the Eddie Jones project – that so far has yielded just two wins this year and left the Wallabies poised for a pool-stage exit for the first time in World Cup history – has gone beyond professional criticism. “It was ugly, and it was embarrassing for me in front of the family and everyone was shocked. I haven’t told anyone before now apart from friends. I guess it is just a sign of the times.”A trip to Annecy, an alpine town in south-eastern France, this week offered no respite.
“Eddie is a fantastic coach. People may not like the way he conducts himself in the media but he has worked his ass off and he is a smart guy. He has a great win rate and a great World Cup record versus a coach [Rennie] that had never been to a World Cup and had just lost to Italy.” He is not afraid to roll with the punches, but believes passionately that the performance of the side in France should be kept in context in terms of how rugby in Australia in organised.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Wallabies still alive at Rugby World Cup as Fiji scrapes home against GeorgiaAustralia's World Cup hopes remain alive after Fiji fails to secure a bonus point in their victory over Georgia.
Read more »
Wallabies beat Portugal to keep Rugby World Cup progress hopes aliveWallabies keep World Cup dream alive with bonus-point win over minnow
Read more »
Wallabies beat Portugal to keep Rugby World Cup hopes aliveThe Wallabies have kept their faint hopes of reaching the Rugby World Cup knockout stages alive with an unconvincing 34-14 victory over minnows Portugal on Monday morning AEDT.
Read more »
Clock ticks with Eddie Jones and Wallabies in Rugby World Cup purgatoryAnother week of waiting looms with Australia’s fate – and potentially that of their coach – lying in the hands of others
Read more »
Wallabies’ World Cup dream on life support after Fiji recover to beat GeorgiaThe Wallabies may have to stay in France for an extra week to learn their World Cup fate after Fiji pulled off a come-from-behind 17-12 win over Georgia.
Read more »
The big unanswered Wallabies questionWill he stay or will he go? If Eddie Jones remains as Australian coach there is one issue that needs to be addressed.
Read more »