Eddie Jones ‘apologises to Australian rugby fans for sub-standard performances’ after the Wallabies suffer 40-6 defeat by Wales, but the ex-England coach denies claims he had an interview with Japan ahead of the Rugby World Cup

• Wallabies boss Eddie Jones has apologised to Australian rugby supporters 
• His side were beaten 40-6 by Wales on Sunday afternoon in their second loss
• Jones also denied claims he had an interview with Japan before the World Cup  
• Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

Eddie Jones apologised to Australian rugby but refused to quit as Wallabies head coach after he was put under further pressure by his team’s 40-6 hammering at the hands of Wales last night.

Former England head coach Jones now needs a miracle to avoid his team becoming the first Australian side ever to exit the World Cup at the pool stage.

Wales replacement fly-half Gareth Anscombe kicked 23 points in what was a national record win over Australia. Warren Gatland’s side became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals in the process.

‘I would like to apologise to the Australian supporters,’ Jones said. ‘Our performances haven’t been up to the standard required. I take full responsibility for that and apologise.’ Jones was sacked by England last December and returned for a second stint in charge of Australia.

‘I came back to Australian rugby to try and help,’ he said. ‘At the moment I’m not giving much help, am I? I’m a proud Australian and we’ve got to improve the whole of Australian rugby.’ 

Eddie Jones (pictured) has aologised to Australian rugby fans for the Wallabies ‘sub-standard performances’ 

Australia were beaten 40-6 by Wales on Sunday afternoon at the Rugby World Cup in what was their second defeat at the tournament

The Wallabies are now in serious danger of becoming the first Australia side to be knocked out of the World Cup at the group stages – and will need results to go their way to qualify

Reports in the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday said Jones had an interview for the role of Japan head coach on the eve of this World Cup in France.

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Jones said, denying the reports. ‘I’m committed to coaching Australia. I take umbrage at the questioning about my commitment to Australian rugby. To doubt my commitment to the job is red hot.’

Jones admitted that the state of Australian rugby looked like a ‘shambles’ from the outside but said he was confident he can change things for the better.

‘Sometimes games like this are the making of a good team moving forwards,’ he said.

‘I think I’ve got the ability to turn things around. I haven’t done a good enough job.’ 

Jones now needs to ensure Australia beat Portugal on Sunday and hope Fiji fail to beat the same opponents and Georgia to make the quarters, but that looks highly unlikely.

Wales are now set to face a quarter-final against one of Samoa, Japan or Argentina.

Gatland’s side lost No 10 Dan Biggar to a pectoral injury which is set to keep him out for a couple of weeks but his replacement Anscombe was outstanding.

Gatland said Biggar’s problem ‘was not a significant injury’ and Wales hope he will be fit for the quarter-finals. Biggar won’t face Georgia in Wales’ final Pool C game.

‘It was a pretty good performance,’ Gatland said.

‘Life is about getting what you deserve and we deserved to win. We’ve been through some pain and some tough times and they’ve fronted up. We have some brilliant people.

‘Not conceding a try was fantastic. I thought it was going to be a close game but we had a great week’s preparation.

‘We are a momentum team and will build confidence from this result.’

Super sub Anscombe said: ‘To concede only six points against a strong Wallabies team is just remarkable.

‘Dan Biggar means so much to this team, he is a real spiritual leader. I knew I had to come on and do my role and that’s all I was focused on.

‘I’ve got to give a lot of credit to our boys. They were outstanding and I’m absolutely chuffed for the group.’

Gareth Anscombe (right) came on for Dan Biggar to kick 23 points for Wales including a drop goal

Biggar (right) departed the field with a shoulder injury and could miss several weeks 

Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies (middle) got the opener for his side after just three minutes

Australia went 24-0 down at half-time, before Wales scored another two tries in the second half

Warren Gatland’s (right) side have now become the first side to qualify for the knockout stages

As well as Anscombe, Gatland had outstanding performances from his captain Jac Morgan, No 8 Taulupe Faletau and wing Josh Adams among others.

Welsh tries came from Gareth Davies, Nick Tompkins and Morgan and Anscombe put the boot into Australia as Jones’ side imploded badly. The Wallabies made countless errors. But Wales were as good as Jones’ side were poor.

It meant Gatland narrowed his deficit in head-to-head meetings with Jones to 4-3 from seven games played.

‘I have a contract and at the end of the World Cup, my performance will be reviewed and at the minute it’s not good enough,’ Jones admitted.

‘We are in a bad period now but we have to fight our way out of it.’

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