Injured Australia captain Allan Alaalatoa has opened up about the emotional blow he suffered upon learning that former head coach Eddie Jones had signed with Japan.
Jones was recently announced as Japan’s head coach, six weeks after he walked out on the Wallabies. He quit his native Australia after leading them to a dismal showing at the World Cup, and repeatedly denied reports that he was set to take over in Japan.
Australian media had reported that the 63-year-old had interviewed for the job during the Wallabies’ World Cup campaign in France.
Quade Cooper has revealed that the Japanese players knew the interviews between Jones and the Brave Blossoms took place, and speaking with the Sydney Morning Herald, Alaalatoa grappled with the shock of Jones’ reported meetings with Japan.
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Jones’ official unveiling last week left Alaalatoa, who had been ruled him out of the World Cup with an Achilles injury, feeling “hurt” and “disappointed”.
“I was back home, obviously watching the World Cup and read the article that came out about him being in conversation with Japan,” the prop said. “But now that it’s confirmed, it just really hurt.
“To be honest, mate, it did hurt when the news was confirmed he was going to Japan. It was really disappointing to see.
“We knew he was here for five years, and he was here to make us better players and that he cared about the players.”
He added: “To see all this come out now, and see him sign with Japan, it just hurts. But now that it is done, it’s new so it hurts but the other side is you get that opportunity just to move on now.
“All that decision has been made, and he’s been in the media a lot, but now it is just forget about him now, let’s move on.”
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