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Go ruin the Boks like the Reds
By Peter Badel
August 19, 2007
AUSTRALIA coach John Connolly has blasted Eddie Jones for joining South Africa, saying he hopes Jones makes a mess of the Springbok's rugby World Cup campaign like he destroyed Queensland.
Connolly also broke his silence on the Wallabies coaching debate by urging the ARU to show faith in a home-grown product as New Zealander Robbie Deans firms for the job.
The Wallabies head to France on Thursday in a confident mood, with Connolly insisting the squad would settle for nothing less than winning the World Cup.
But he expressed his disappointment in Jones, who was unveiled last month as South Africa's technical adviser for the World Cup after he took Australia to the cup final in 2003, losing to England in extra time.
Jones quit Queensland in May after a disastrous Super 14 season in which the beleaguered Reds won two of 13 games and finished with the wooden spoon.
"I hope Eddie helps South Africa the way he helped Queensland," Connolly said.
"As a professional coach, I guess he can go where he wants. But, to me, it's about doing what's right. Underpinning that is your qualities as a man and stuff you live by.
"I would doubt if a lot of other people would do what Eddie has done. I couldn't imagine a former Wallaby coach like Rod Macqueen doing it. I wouldn't do it in the short term. I wouldn't have touched it."
Connolly and Jones have been at loggerheads for most of the year, going back to when Reds fullback Chris Latham injured his knee at state training, putting him on the sidelines for most of the domestic season.
Queensland's Connolly replaced Jones as Wallabies coach last season and clearly the passage of time has not thawed their frosty relationship.
Defending his decision last month, Jones said he could not single-handedly plot Australia's downfall in France because he didn't have an intimate knowledge of the Wallabies set-up under Connolly.
But Connolly was dismayed by the inference Jones is clueless about the structures underpinning Australia's quest for a third Webb Ellis trophy.
Jones was sacked in December of 2005 after four years in charge of the Wallabies. He guided the national outfit to 33 wins from 57 matches and knows the talent of Wallabies spearheads George Gregan, Stephen Larkham, Matt Giteau, Chris Latham and skipper Stirling Mortlock.
"Eddie has his reasons (for assisting the Springboks) but the fact is, it is helpful when you have intimate knowledge of the players," Connolly said.
"Eddie has coached the Wallabies not so long ago. He will give insights to South Africa. He can affect the outcome of his national team. They would be benefitting from Eddie, I have no doubt."
Asked if he believed Jones accepted the post to spite Connolly, the Wallabies coach said: "I was always a bit of a supporter of Eddie through my columns. I don't think our relationship had anything to do with it."
With Connolly to vacate the Wallabies post after the World Cup, the man known as "Knuckles" maintained his preference was for a local coach to succeed him.
"I would support whatever decision the ARU made. But personally, I would like to see an Aussie get the job," he said.
"I was offered the Ireland job in 1996 and I knocked it back because the interest is not the same coaching another country.
"Can you imagine an Englishman or a New Zealander standing there singing our national anthem?
"In terms of coaching and development, the quality of Australian coaches is very good. We have several who are up to it. My personal hope is that an Australian will get the job."
While the All Blacks are raging favourites to win the World Cup, Connolly said the Wallabies could not be more confident as they prepared to leave for France.
"There is not a single doubt in our minds that we are good enough to beat the All Blacks," he said.
"There is not a lot between the teams, as the last four encounters have shown. We played all the rugby the last time we met. They played good field position and banged it into the corners.
"We respect them greatly - but we don't fear them. We want to win, that's it.
"We won't settle for anything else. We won't draw a line in the sand short of the prize."