Eddie Jones has doubled down on his criticism of Rugby Australia after quitting on the Wallabies – claiming "the only thing I could do was resign."
Jones has left the Wallabies in disarray after overseeing Australia's worst ever Rugby World Cup result and then bailing on a five year contract that was supposed to end in 2027 home World Cup glory.
The 63-year-old has wasted no time getting back in a tracksuit, co-coaching the Barbarians with Scott Robertson in Cardiff this week.
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The BaaBaas – including axed Wallabies captain Michael Hooper – will play Wales on Sunday (AEDT) in a farewell match for iconic lock Alun Wyn Jones at Principality Stadium.
"Post the World Cup, there was always going to be a decision to be made whether we could change Australian rugby or not," Jones said.
"I went in with a plan, had a commitment from Rugby Australia on what that looked like and when the unity of where we were going wasn't the same – you know it's not because of lack of desire from Rugby Australia but there's other forces at play – then the only thing I could do was resign.
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"It's got nothing to do with results. Obviously the results are disappointing but I went in there with a plan to change Australian rugby which not only involves the team but the system to put it together."
RA chief executive Phil Waugh on Tuesday rejected the premise that the organisation was on a road to nowhere but admitted Jones was on a different timeline when it came to making systemic change.
"When you've had 20 years of unsuccessful rugby it's because something's wrong in the system and the system needs to change," Jones said.
NEW PODCAST! Michael Atkinson, Sam Worthington and Tom Decent unpack Eddie Jones' resignation from the Wallabies and Phil Waugh's press conference
"And we went in with a plan of how we wanted to change the system and that's unable to be changed so I felt like my job would be compromised the whole time for the next four years, which I wasn't prepared to do."
Jones also claimed reports of him interviewing for the vacant Japan job were an "absolute red herring."
"Again, if you look at Australian rugby over the last 20 years we've had no success, limited success, and we need to change things and now we're trying to say that a supposed interview was the reason why Australia had a bad World Cup. That's a load of rubbish."
Meanwhile, Wallabies great Quade Cooper hit back at Jones on social media after the coach had claimed he, Michael Hooper and Bernard Foley were not the right "role models" for the current team.
"Training camp 23/24 complete. Funny, this week my will and desire to win were questioned by a former coach," Cooper wrote.
"To me, the way I view winning and success is through preparation. No outcome is guaranteed, but what you can guarantee is the work and preparation you put in.
https://twitter.com/QuadeCooper/status/1719674155464073647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
"You know that you have given yourself and your team the best possible opportunity to win. That's where confidence is born.
"Confidence does not come from knowing the outcome, it comes from knowing that you've done the work, and you will have your own back regardless of the outcome."
Cooper was axed in favour of Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson for the failed World Cup campaign.
BARBARIANS (15-1): Ilasia Droasese (Fiji), Shaun Stevenson (New Zealand), Len Ikitau (Australia), Izaia Perese (Australia), Selestino Ravutaumada (Fiji), Nicolas Sanchez (Argentina), Simione Kuruvoli (Fiji), Rob Valetini (Australia), Michael Hooper (Australia), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Rob Leota (Australia), Taniela Tupou (Australia), Tevita Ikanivere (Fiji), Joe Moody (New Zealand)
Reserves: Angus Bell (Australia), Asafo Aumua (New Zealand), Peni Ravai (Fiji), Api Ratuniyarawa (Fiji), Tom Hooper (Australia), Lautaro Bazan Velez (Argentina), Ben Donaldson (Australia), Andrew Kellaway (Australia)
WALES SQUAD
Forwards: Corey Domachowski (Cardiff), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Leon Brown (Dragons), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons), Teddy Williams (Cardiff), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Jac Morgan (Ospreys) Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
Backs: Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Cai Evans (Dragons), Mason Grady (Cardiff), George North (Ospreys), Johnny Williams (Scarlets), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Leigh Halfpenny (unattached), Tom Rogers (Scarlets)
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