Eddie Jones was making all the news again this week. Will Skelton’s appointment as World Cup captain and the axe that probably ended the illustrious 125-cap career of Michael Hooper was the stuff of headlines. The Wallabies may have lost all four of their games under Jones but rugby union is part of the Australian sporting chat again.
It was a brave call. Jones appointed the open-side as co-captain less than two months ago but injury truncated Hooper’s chance to impress the new boss. Most coaches – in whatever sport – would not have dared drop a national icon. Jones had the courage. Sometimes sport is perceived as some kind of backdrop, a cosy send-off for legends. Not in Eddie’s world.
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