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Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, who sent Matt Henjak home from the 2005 tour of South Africa, is prepared to offer the disgraced Western Force halfback another chance.
Jones, soon to become director of rugby at English club Saracens, last night supported the ruling of the Rugby WA's conduct committee that Henjak should be sacked for his attack on teammate Haig Sare at a Perth bar 11 days ago.
But Jones said he would be willing to take on Henjak, who earned four national caps during his coaching reign, should the halfback be eligible to play in Europe.
However, the Herald was told last night that Henjak might not ualify for another work visa, given that he had played rugby in England.
"I would give him another chance if the circumstances were right … no hesitation," Jones said last night. "He deserves the punishment but still deserves to have a future as a footballer."
Jones said he knew Henjak had a problem with alcohol - which led to his becoming the first Wallaby in 40 years to be sent home from a tour after a nightclub incident in Cape Town in 2005 - but felt he had "turned the corner" and so selected him for the end-of-season Wallabies tour the same year. "Matt is essentially a good kid. But it is true, there have been a number of alcohol-related incidents," Jones said.
"And I did sense that he had an issue then [in 2005]. We sought to address the problem. He came on the Wallabies tour [at the end of the year] and played well, especially against Ireland.
"We thought he had turned the corner. But it seems now that the corner was just too far away."
Jones last night urged the Australian Rugby Union not to abandon Henjak. "The big thing now, going forward, is for Matt to sort out his issue. I hope the ARU and provinces help him."
However, Jones ruled out the possibility of Henjak playing rugby in Japan, because of the language difference. "Players in those positions - halfbacks and five-eighths - have to speak Japanese," he said.
Henjak may know as early as today whether his time in Australian rugby is officially up. The ARU is expected today to receive the transcript from the conduct committee's hearing, which recommended that the Western Force halfback be sacked because of his attack on Sare in an East Fremantle bar.
The ARU, which has the final say on whether a player can be sacked, must examine in detail the findings of the judiciary hearing before being able to rubber-stamp its ruling that Henjak should have his Force contract terminated because he had breached its code of conduct.
Although the ARU management and their legal officers will be fastidious in fully reviewing the hearing's findings, there is little doubt that either late today or tomorrow they will endorse the decision to cast Henjak adrift.
The conduct committee, which suspended Sare for eight weeks and fined him $5000, was damning of Henjak.
In its statement, it said Henjak had "savagely punched" Sare, "when Haig was sitting down vulnerable and unable to defend himself".
"The committee was unable to find any justification for that assault, which probably caused Haig Sare's jaw to be broken."
Sare's management yesterday told the Herald the utility back would not be seeking damages from Henjak.
Force captain Nathan Sharpe has been dismayed by this latest incident, especially as it came so soon after the "quokka shocker" affair, in which players Scott Fava and Richard Brown were fined for mistreating the native wildlife during a team bonding camp at Rottnest Island late last year.
"[I am] very disappointed, you know … in light of the trouble the Force has had. We have had two incidents in the last few months that have really tarnished the team," Sharpe said.
Jones prepared to offer Henjak English lifeline - Latest rugby news - RugbyHeaven
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"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau." 
Originally Posted by benny
Once you've played test, "A" or sevens for a country, that's it I think.
Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby 
for a week and a half to do it) there wasn't the mechanism to sack him......It sounds just crazy enough to be believable doesn't it?
