Australia head coach Eddie Jones launched an attack on the media, saying they had dragged the nation’s rugby down with “negativity”, after confirming attack coach Brad Davis had quit his staff ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Davis, who held coaching roles at English clubs Bath, Ospreys and London Irish, was named on Jones’ staff in May and departs after four successive Test defeats with the Wallabies this season.
Asked whether it was Davis’ decision to stand down, the former England coach Jones – who has yet to win a Test in his second stint in charge of Australia – said: “Yeah, we had a discussion.”
Jones then lost his patience with questions about his World Cup squad named last week and his shock omissions of long-time captain Michael Hooper and fly-half Quade Cooper.
“I think he’s very upset, mate,” Jones said of Cooper when adding that he had not returned his calls.
“I know you blokes think we can’t do anything (at the World Cup), so don’t ask any questions, boys,” he said. “Just be the pessimists you are. Keep Australian rugby where it’s been, keep it where it’s been.
“I know what’s wrong with Australian rugby and part of you blokes are the problem. I can’t believe the level of negativity here. You’re so negative about everything.
“We’re going off to a World Cup you think we can’t win. Tell us we’re terrible and we will prove you wrong.
“I can feel this negativity – I’ve got to wash myself off because it’s just sticking to me. If you haven’t got anything positive to say, don’t ask please.
“Complain about players that don’t get selected. Keep doing about that because it’s fantastic, we love it.”
Australia, currently ranked eighth in the world, are winless in their last four matches, suffering back-to-back defeats against New Zealand following losses to Argentina and South Africa.
