Wallabies centre Lalakai Foketi admits it "would hurt" if Eddie Jones was named Japan coach after ditching Australia on the back of a failed Rugby World Cup.
Foketi and Test teammate Angus Bell both addressed the tumult of the Jones departure at Waratahs training on Wednesday.
Jones resigned 10 months into a five-year contract and has since expressed interest in returning to Japan.
Watch the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season on the home of rugby, Stan Sport. Every round exclusive, ad free, live and on demand
"I don't know what's going to happen. If it (Jones moves to Japan) does, it does," Foketi said.
"I think it would hurt a little bit, just because of all the chat around before (losing to Wales at the World Cup) … but, again, what he did for us at the World Cup and leading up to that, you can't fault his effort and his drive and want to make Australian rugby better. So we really respected him and respect him.
"So I guess if that (Japan job) happens then good on him."
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Jones went 2-7 with the Wallabies this year and Australia failed to make the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan – who led the axing of previous coach Dave Rennie in favour of Jones – has since been ousted.
"I was personally disappointed, I really liked Eddie," Bell said.
"He got the best out of me as an individual and a player and I really enjoyed being under him and coached by him and the rest of the staff with 'Hats' (Neal Hatley) as the scrum and forwards coach. It is disappointing seeing them go because they are quality coaches and we can see in parts there we are a great team but we weren't able to put it together for 80 minutes at all.
"It's disappointing to see them go but you can't change the future so we just have to deal with what is now and as rugby players that's putting our best forward for the Waratahs."
Bell was asked whether the Jones to Japan speculation had affected the Wallabies at the World Cup.
"Not really. Again, there's plenty of media, there's always articles that are released that aren't positive or have a negative impact on people," he said.
"I guess we had bigger fish to fry in the competition … so, no, I don't think it affected us at all. We knew Eddie was committed with how much he was doing behind the scenes and what he was doing for the group. He did everything that he possibly could have done for the group and tried to get us forward."
Dan McKellar (Leicester) and Stephen Larkham (Brumbies) have been tipped as frontrunners to take the Wallabies reins.
"There's no point worrying about who the coach will be," Foketi said.
"I've always thought if you play good footy, then the rest will take care of itself.
"If it's a foreigner or an Australian, then I'm sure they're coming here to do the right thing and that's to put Australian rugby back where it belongs."
The 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season kicks off on February 23 with a grand final rematch between the Crusaders and Chiefs in Hamilton.
The Waratahs kick off their campaign against the Reds in Brisbane in round one.
2024 SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC TRIAL GAME SCHEDULE
Saturday 3 February
Rebels vs Waratahs – 2.30pm AEDT – TBC, Melbourne
Reds vs Force – 3.15pm AEST – Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Brumbies vs Drua – 6.45pm AEDT – Viking Park, Canberra
Saturday 10 February
Force vs Brumbies – 5pm WST – Revo Fitness Stadium, Perth
Reds vs Waratahs – 7.40pm AEST – Gallas Fox Park, Roma
Friday 16 February
Rebels vs Drua – 4.30pm AEDT – Gosch's Paddock, Melbourne
Saturday 17 February
Waratahs vs Warringah/Manly – 6.30pm AEDT – Pittwater Rugby Park, Sydney
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