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Stirling Mortlock: 'Thanks Eddie'
A war of words has erupted in Australia as the recriminations over their Rugby World Cup exit begin in earnest.
Wallaby captain Stirling Mortlock has come in for criticism from former coach Eddie Jones, who defied the odds to lead the Australians to the 2003 World Cup final, where they also lost to the English.
Jones, now assisting South Africa, believes Mortlock was the wrong choice as skipper and that his lack of inspiration cost his country dear in Saturday's quarter-final in Marseille.
"One of the things was a lack of leadership," Jones mused on the reasons for the two-time world champions' exit.
"If you've got George Gregan in the side then you have got to use his captaincy skills.
"As you get older you don't lose your captaincy skills - they actually get better."
As Mortlock arrived back in Sydney on Wednesday morning, the Brumbies centre refusing to return serve at his former coach following criticism of his leadership skills.
Told of Jones's comments upon his arrival at Sydney Airport on Wednesday, an unimpressed Mortlock said: "Thanks Eddie."
"I don't know specifically what Eddie's had to say," he added.
"Obviously he's involved in coaching the Boks so he is going to do everything in his power to prepare them as well as he can."
"If that means pointing out flaws or things he thinks are weaknesses then so be it."
The 30-year-old conceded Australia's early exit from the World Cup would be painful for some time to come and admitted the Wallabies may have been overawed in Marseille.
"Possibly the occasion got to us more than we anticipated," said Mortlock.
"Our preparation we were happy with, we just didn't go out and implement our game plan.
"Being captain I take a bit of responsibility and likewise (so do) all the players.
"We know we didn't play as well as we should have or could have. Everyone is extremely disappointed with how we conducted ourselves.
"The disappointment is still there and I'm sure it will take a long time before that reduces."
But Mortlock, who is yet to commit to Australian rugby beyond 2008, can see some positive from the World Cup wreckage.
"The last 18 months we have improved. (It's) disappointing we didn't show that in the quarter-final but I do feel our forwards in particular have made some improvements," he said.
"The way we're playing we made improvement. It's very important that we keep on improving."
"If we do that I'm very confident Australian rugby will be strong."
