Wallabies assistant would support return of Eddie Jones

The idea of England coach Eddie Jones making a return to Australia rugby has support from within the ranks of the Wallabies.

Test attack coach Scott Wisemantel says he would “love” the coaching maestro to take on a role with Australia following next year’s Rugby World Cup in France when his contract with England ends.

It’s believed Rugby Australia has reached out to Jones about a possible role after he again crushed local hopes with a two-one series defeat this month.

The wily Jones, who thrives on gamesmanship between coaches, stole all of the headline during the series.

Wisemantel said he could see Jones, who grew up in Australia and coached the Wallabies between 2001 and 2005, as an ambassador for the game leading into the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Jones steered the Wallabies to the final of the 2003 version – the last time the tournament was held on home soil.

“I’d love to have Eddie back in Australia,” Wisemantel said on Tuesday. “In what capacity, I don’t know, I just think he’d be great for the game heading into ’27.

“Just the way that he promotes the game, the way he drums up business from your (media) end and interest.”

Wisemantel worked as an assistant to Jones’s England in the 2019 tournament in Japan and has remained a close friend, catching up with him last weekend.

He said they didn’t talk future plans and made it clear that he didn’t want his former mentor to replace current Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.

“I’m biased because I’m mates with him and I’ve worked with him,” Wisemantel said.

“But at the same time – and I want to make this really, really clear, so you can’t draw a bow that Wisemantel wants Eddie Jones back – I think Dave Rennie and this coaching staff are exceptional.”

– Melissa Woods