Media pan Eddie's ill-fated 'experiment'

The Wallabies were blasted by Australian media after their record defeat to Wales on Sunday left Eddie Jones' side on the verge of an early Rugby World Cup exit.

The two-time world champion crashed to a 40-6 loss to the Welsh on the back of a shock pool defeat to Fiji, to leave Australia's hopes of reaching the quarterfinals all but over.

Sunday's result was both Australia's heaviest defeat at a Rugby World Cup and its worst-ever loss to Wales.

The Wallabies, who have one pool game left against Portugal, are set to miss out on the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in 10 tournaments, having only beaten tier-two side Georgia so far in France.

"Rock Bottom: Wallabies worst nightmare comes true," was the verdict of media outlets The Australian and The Daily Telegraph.

The latest loss ramps up the pressure on Australia head coach Jones after seven defeats in eight games since he took charge in January.

Following the defeat in Lyon, Jones apologized for the result, but denied Australian media reports claiming he has been interviewed by the Japan Rugby Union about coaching its team after the World Cup.

Jones has also been heavily criticized for bringing an inexperienced squad to the Rugby World Cup.

"The Eddie Jones experiment can officially be declared a disaster after the Wallabies all but crashed out of the World Cup in record-breaking fashion," rugby reporter Tom Decent wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Several Wallabies stars expressed their dismay at the result.

"Shattered for the Wallabies but congrats to my valley friends," wrote former Australia flyhalf Matt Giteau on social media platform X.

"It didn't have to be like this," Wallabies back Bernard Foley, 34, also posted.

However, veteran Wallabies flanker Michael Hooper, who Jones omitted from the World Cup squad because of injury, came to the head coach's defense.

"A lot is going to come on Eddie, and maybe there's some fairness in that," Hooper told broadcaster Stan Sport.

"But I've been in the camp. No one is up for more hours than Eddie. Eddie is up until 11 pm thinking about how to make the Wallabies team better, and he's waking up at 3 am answering messages.

"Let's not have a crack at the bloke."

Former New Zealand international Sonny Bill Williams said he felt for the players and traveling Australian supporters, who left the stadium early in their droves.

"That second half, they looked like a team that just lost belief," said Williams, a double World Cup winner with the All Blacks.

"40-6 was really embarrassing and I feel for these kids. They're going to carry this one for the rest of their careers and feel this until they get to come back here again and rectify it."

AFP