/ 2 November 2007

Alan Jones applies for Wallaby coaching job

Broadcaster Alan Jones has applied for the job of Wallabies coach and said he wants to be an agent of change. Jones, who coached the Wallabies from 1984 to 1988, said he did not expect to take the team through to the next World Cup in 2011 but wanted to introduce a more attacking style of play.

Broadcaster Alan Jones has applied for the job of Wallabies coach and said he wants to be an agent of change.

Jones, who coached the Wallabies from 1984 to 1988, said he did not expect to take the team through to the next World Cup in 2011 but wanted to introduce a more attacking style of play.

”I’m responding to the call for change,” the 64-year-old Jones told a news conference. ”That’s been our undoing. We need to release our prodigious talent out wide.”

Jones enjoyed success as Australia coach, leading the team to the Grand Slam on their tour of Europe in 1984 and winning the 1986 Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand.

He coached rugby league club Balmain before moving into radio broadcasting.

Australians David Nucifora, Laurie Fisher, Ewen McKenzie and Scott Johnson are among other candidates for the Wallabies job.

John Connolly stepped down as Australia coach following their World Cup quarterfinal defeat by England last month. — Reuters