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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Angus Fontaine

Return of the prodigal son: can Eddie Jones unleash Wallabies’ missing X factor?

Eddie Jones is returning to Australia to once again take the reins of the Wallabies. Can he return them to winning ways?
Eddie Jones is returning to Australia to once again take the reins of the Wallabies. Can he return them to winning ways? Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

If Wallabies players can find a way to be as ruthless as their Rugby Australia bosses and as cunning as their new coach, exciting days lie ahead. The announcement by RA that Eddie Jones is returning as coach of the men’s side, overseer of the women’s program and chief of chiefs for the five years leading into the 2027 World Cup in Australia, is monumental.

By showing Dave Rennie the door and throwing Jones the keys to the kingdom, RA has again turned to an Australian coach and backed his vision to return to the “Wallabies way”: uptempo running rugby played hard but fair. They have also sent a bold warning shot to the world ahead of the World Cup in September.

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