Wales v Australia: Coaching rivals Warren Gatland and Eddie Jones reunited at World Cup
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A legacy is threatened when coaches decide to return to a former job where they had previous success.
Gatland and Jones have both returned to old haunts and have had their challenges over the last few months
In his first spell in charge, Jones took Australia to the 2003 final, only to lose to England in extra-time.
After Jones left the England job at the end of 2022, Australian rugby chiefs took a gamble by bringing him back to replace Dave Rennie in January 2023.
The move has not paid off in the short-term, with Jones’ only victory coming against Georgia in Australia’s opening World Cup game in Paris.
Jones has stressed the importance of building towards the 2027 tournament and picked a young squad for France, leaving out Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper. Being in charge of Australia’s first pool-stage exit would not look good on his CV, however.
Gatland has also defied the “never-go-back” mantra after his initial 12-year stint with Wales concluded after the 2019 World Cup.
Welsh Rugby Union bosses decided Wayne Pivac’s reign must end in December 2022 and turned to a familiar face.
Two wins in eight matches in the 2023 Six Nations and World Cup warm-up games for Gatland followed, while there has been a turbulent time off the field, as a potential player strike over contractual issues was averted.
Gatland insisted it was always about being ready for France and has turned Wales into the early Pool C pace-setters ahead of this latest showdown with Jones.
Who will be celebrating at the next curry remains to be seen.
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