It's a decision that has made shockwaves around the world as the Wallabies confirm the appointment of Eddie Jones as head coach.
Jones was announced to the position on Monday, taking over from Dave Rennie after a mixed 2022 campaign.
HSBC SYDNEY SEVENS TICKET FINAL RELEASE: GET YOUR TICKETS TO RUGBY’S BIGGEST PARTY NOW!
Rennie's 36.4% winning record as coach is the worst in Wallabies history, however, fails to adequately reflect his influence in regenerating the program he inherited after Michael Cheika was let go in 2019.
Series wins over France and South Africa in 2021 are balanced with disappointing Spring Tours and Bledisloe defeats as he blooded a fresh generation of talent.
Rennie made it clear he wasn't prepared to work with Jones at the Wallabies, hinting that his future 'will probably be a bit clearer in the next few months'
"It won't happen before (the World Cup). We've had no discussions around that. There's no plan to make alterations to the coaching group at this stage," he said on the issue last week
"My assumption is we're going to push on. What happens beyond 2023 is a different matter."
Jones will have five Tests and a couple of training camps to make his mark on a squad still searching for an attacking coach after Scott Wisemantel stepped down.
The decision naturally raised plenty of eyebrows, just days after Rennie hosted his first camp of 2023 on the Gold Coast.
Wallabies great Matt Giteau was handed his debut under the former Randwick hooker in 2002 and whilst sympathises with Rennie, backed Jones to get the job done.
"I feel for Rennie but at the same time if anyone can turn things around quickly it’s Eddie," he said via social media.
"Some of the boys won’t know what’s hit them."
Drew Mitchell likened it to 2019 when the decision was made to bring in an independent selector and Director of Rugby over Cheika, concluding with "To some extent, feels like history is repeating itself."
Meanwhile, Tim Horan labelled it a risk but one that might have to be made on the precipice of an important time in Australian Rugby, with Jones taking overseeing both the Wallabies and Wallaroos.
"Eddie Jones as new Wallabies coach......brave and has some risk. But maybe a risk worth taking considering the current win/loss ratio," Horan notes. "Need a Bledisloe Cup (within 2 years) and RWC Semi and Lions win to justify the decision. Strap yourself in for the ride."
At the time of the announcement, both Sevens sides were preparing for this week's event in Hamilton, caught off guard by the announcement.
Women's coach Tim Walsh gave his perspective on working with Jones but many were left stunned by the development.
“I think he was coaching when I was playing and then I was coaching the men’s team, he helped get (Samu) Kerevi over to play for the Commonwealth Games,” Men’s coach Tim Walsh reflected.
“Eddie was great in helping make that connection with Suntory so I’ve got great relationships with him.”
It comes just hours before Steve Borthwick is expected to name his first England squad ahead of February's Six Nations.
As usual, the last word will be left with Jones, who discussed his future with Gold Digger only weeks earlier.
“I’m obviously in the last stages of coaching, I’ve probably got one job to do and I want to do a job that makes a difference,” Jones said
“Whether that is a top-ranked team or an emerging team, I don’t really have a strong desire for either or.”
