Knives out for Alan Jones

Press, 28 July 1987, Page 40

Knives out for Alan Jones

NZPA-Reuter Sydney The knives are out for the Australian rugby union coach, Alan Jones, after Saturday’s test defeat by the All Blacks, and the former star, Mark Ella, is at the forefront of those demanding their pound of flesh. Jones* critics say he is losing his touch while his side and their tactics have become too predictable.

Widespread team changes are imperative, the critics add, if the most successful coach in Australian rugby history is to repeat the triumphs of the last three years. Ella yesterday, in a column in the daily newspaper, the “Australian,” opened up with

both barrels on Jones.

“There is something drastically wrong in the Australian camp,” said Ella, who retired after the 1984 Grand Slam tour of Britain.

“I will not join those critics who are sharpening their axes, particularly on Alan Jones,” he said. “But Australian rugby is in a sorrowful state when one considers just how dominant we were only 12 months ago.” Ella proceeded to demolish Jones’ methods, accusing him of being too much a one-man band, having too many commitments outside rugby and having lost the ability of getting the most out of his players.