A pair of former Wallabies expect returning coach Eddie Jones to throw the team a few curveballs as he attempts to reverse their fortunes with the Rugby World Cup looming.
SEKOPE KEPU Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand's Dave Rennie was sacked as Australian coach on Monday, with Jones confirmed as the replacement less than nine months out from the tournament in France.
Fresh off being sacked as England coach, Jones previously coached Australia from 2001 to 2005, taking the team to the 2003 World Cup Final in Sydney.
The news left many stunned, including long-time Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu.
Capped 110-times for Australia and now based in Auckland with the Moana Pasifika Super Rugby side, Kepu said it was a massive shock to hear Rennie had been sacked.
"I thought it was a gimmick or a stitch up … I didn't see it coming.
"Obviously I'm disappointed for Dave. I know he was well respected by all the players.
"But I'm excited to see how Eddie does. I will definitely be watching and I'm sure he'll bring some magical changes and will spice it up, throw a few spanners in there."
Former Wallabies playmaker Christian Leali'ifano, also now part of the Moana Pasifika squad, echoed a similar sentiment.
Like Kepu, his last game for Australia came in 2019 before Rennie took over the following year.
But, despite the team's winning record of only 38 percent under the two-time Super Rugby winning coach, Leali'ifano felt Rennie was doing good things with a younger group of players.
"The results probably didn't show and it is that kind of business. But culturally and speaking to friends I know, they really enjoyed their time under him.
"But they've made the decision and I think Eddie Jones can do a quality job as well.
"I'm sure there will be [a few curveballs], there always is with him ... but it is something fresh, so as shocking as it is, it's fresh for the guys heading into a year that's really important."
Leali'ifano said if there was one person in this scenario that could make an impact, it would be Jones.
An assessment also made by Kepu, who said Jones proved what he was capable of when he took the England job.
"They got bundled out of the World Cup in 2015 and then they come down under in 2016 and whitewash us, beat us 3-0.
"He can do a lot in this nine months.
"We were the same with (Michael) Cheika in 2014 before the 2015 World Cup. He took us on a week before the spring tour and then we went through [and made the final]."
- RNZ