Cape Town - Former Wallabies coach Alan Jones says the current Australia team is the worst the country has had in 60 years.
Michael Cheika’s Wallabies have won just three of 11 Tests in 2018, losing at home to Ireland and Argentina and slumping to an equal-worst seventh in the official World Rugby rankings after last weekend’s defeat to Wales in Cardiff.
In a column for The Australian, Jones - who coached Australia between 1984 and 1987 and steered them to 23 wins in 30 Tests - compared the current squad to the infamous 1958 team that won just two out of 11 matches.
“This is our worst season of Test rugby since 1958. We have suffered home soil losses to Ireland for the first time since 1979 and to Argentina for the first time since 1983.
“The attack, under assistant coach Stephen Larkham, has produced the worst results per game since 1983. The game last weekend was almost unwatchable,” Jones wrote.
Cheika has been backed to fulfil his contract until the end of next year’s Rugby World Cup by Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle.
But Jones added that Castle “knows little about the game”.
Jones also proposed a new coaching staff, headed by current Scotland director of rugby Scott Johnson, with Cardiff head coach John Mulvihill, Scotland defence coach Matthew Taylor and schoolboy coach Andrew Blades as his assistants.