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Jones says George should've led
By Wayne Smith
October 09, 2007
FORMER Australia coach Eddie Jones said the Wallabies might still be in the World Cup had George Gregan been captain of the side instead of Stirling Mortlock.
Gregan was Jones's captain for almost the entire period he was coach of the Wallabies and together they won and lost just about every major trophy in the game with the exception of the World Cup, although they could hardly have gone closer in 2003.
But while Gregan led the Wallabies during the domestic and Tri-Nations Tests of 2006, John Connolly's first season as Australian coach, he forfeited the leadership role to Mortlock for the end-of-year tour.
Mortlock then shared it with Phil Waugh throughout 2007 until being named sole captain for the cup campaign.
Mortlock's leadership is being questioned following Australia's elimination from the tournament by England, a game in which the Wallabies were tactically and physically outplayed. (I'm not convinced that Mortlock's captaincy had much to do with it)
In many respects it was Mortlock's shortcomings as a goal kicker rather than as a leader that cost the Wallabies. He landed only two goals from five attempts, while England kicker Jonny Wilkinson also had an off day by his standards, but still finished with four goals from six shots. And in the end that made all the difference even though Australia scored the only try of the match. (Possibly a little harsh?)
Jones, however, believes that when the game was hanging in the balance, neither Mortlock nor any of the other leaders in the team - Gregan included - stuck up their hand.
"That's true to an extent," said Jones when asked about the Wallabies' leadership. "George not being captain definitely had an effect on the team because he is by far the best captain, a natural leader.
"Look at the men who have captained World Cup-winning sides, David Kirk (1987), Nick Farr-Jones (1991), Francois Pienaar (1995), John Eales (1999) and Martin Johnson (2003), all outstanding captains. Look at the four teams still left in the World Cup, all have great leadership groups.
"I don't think Stirling has captained winning sides. And at the end of the day you need someone in charge who knows how to win. And George knows."
If that wasn't controversial enough, Jones repeated the call he made before the cup for Australia to look seriously at approaching Springboks coach Jake White to take over the Wallabies.
Almost certainly Kiwi Robbie Deans would have been named as the new coach next month had the All Blacks not been eliminated from the World Cup. Now there is the very real likelihood of Deans being offered the New Zealand coaching job.
If Deans is off the radar, the only remaining candidates are Australian - Wallabies assistant coaches Scott Johnson and John Muggleton, Blues coach David Nucifora and Super 14 coaches Ewen McKenzie and Laurie Fisher.
While most critics see the choice narrowing down to Johnson or Fisher, there has been a push in Nucifora's direction because of his proven, if controversial, record of standing up to player power. And as John O'Neill's autobiography revealed, if there is one thing that the new ARU chief executive believes has held back Australian rugby it is player power out of control.
"They say they want the best person for the job. Well, Jake is a good manager of men, a good tactician and he has got outstanding results on the international stage over the past four years," said Jones, who is White's special adviser for the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Wallabies fullback Chris Latham has confirmed he is weighing up as many as five offers to join British or European clubs, among them Bristol and Ulster. (I'm a little worried about this)
The Australian
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau." 
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