‘Worst team in 60 years’ - Alan Jones

Former Wallabies coach Alan Jones has taken aim at the current Wallabies in his latest column for The Australian. 

Former Wallabies coach Alan Jones has lamented the current squad’s poor results under Michael Cheika in 2018, labelling them the worst outfit since 1958 and suggesting a radical new coaching staff to succeed Michael Cheika.

Jones lamented the sorry state of affairs in 2018, a season of three wins and eight losses with the Wallabies slumping to an equal worst ever seventh in the world rankings.

In his column, Jones who coached Australia between 1984 and 1987 and led them to 23 victories in 30 Tests, compared the current squad to the infamous 1958 team that won just two out of 11 matches.

"This is our worst season of Test rugby since 1958," Jones wrote. "We have suffered home soil losses to Ireland for the first time since 1979 and to Argentina for the first time since 1983.

"The attack, under assistant coach Stephen Larkham, has produced the worst results per game since 1983. The game last weekend [against Wales] was almost unwatchable."

Cheika has been backed to fulfil his contract until the end of the World Cup by Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle. However, Jones continued his critique, claiming Castle ‘knows little about the game’.

Jones also proposed a new coaching staff, headed by current Scotland director of rugby Scott Johnson, with Cardiff head coach John Mulvihill and schoolboy coach Andrew Blades as his assistants.