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Eddie Jones reveals how close NRL immortal came to stunning code switch
By Finn Morton
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has dropped a bombshell in a conversation with NRL guru Phil ‘Gus” Gould. In fact, it might be the biggest ‘what ifs’ in the history of Australian rugby union.
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Legendary coach Jones is back in Australia ahead of this year’s World Cup in France, after replacing Dave Rennie in the Wallabies’ top job last month.
By his own admission, it was an opportunity he thought he’d “never get again.”
Jones led the Wallabies to a World Cup final in 2003, but was sacked a couple of years later following a disastrous run of form.
Two years on from the thrilling extra-time loss to Jonny Wilkinson’s England, Jones was out of job.
While the Wallabies continued to struggle, in what has since turned into two decades of lacklustre results, Jones went on to win a World Cup with the Springboks in 2007.
But the 63-year-old has revealed some stunning news in a recent interview on Stan Sport which would’ve changed Australian rugby forever.
NRL immortal Andrew Johns reportedly had a deal “done” with Australian Rugby in 2005.
“We had Andrew Johns done mate, 2005. We had him done, he was going to come,” Jones told Gould on Coach Corner.
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“He would have made a hell of a difference.”
Jones also reiterated his desire to lure South Sydney Rabbitohs lock Cameron Murray to the 15-player game.
The super coach told SEN Mornings with Matt White earlier this month that the New South Wales and Australian representative would be “handy” in a Wallabies jersey.
Well, unprovoked, Jones told Gus Gould the exact same thing.
“(Billy) Slater would have been handy,” he added. “That Cameron Murray would be pretty handy at 12.”
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When the Wallabies made the World Cup final 20 years ago, they had some former rugby league stars among their ranks.
Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri all played starring roles as the men in gold charged towards the final in Sydney.
“I think the history of the world shows that people like gladiators.
“Why’s the State of Origin so successful in league? Because people love seeing that. People still love seeing that, there’s still a place for it.
“Outside backs in league, if you’re a State of Origin player in rugby league and you’re an outside back, you can definitely make it in rugby.
“Matty Rogers, Wendell (Sailor), Lote Tuqiri have all shown that. Andrew Walker, what a player he was.”
Jones needs someone who can replace folau and only Suali'i can cover that...someone like Matt Roger's and Matt Burton provides that...someone like brad Thorne and Nelson Asofa Solomona provides that...vunivalu's arial ability and koroibete's sailor like frame might just be the recipe for Jones