Ex-skipper Mortlock thinks sacking Jones would be 'worst thing' for Australia

Sacking Eddie Jones would be the "worst thing" Australia could do despite their Rugby World Cup woes, according to former captain Stirling Mortlock.

The Wallabies are staring at group-stage elimination at the World Cup for the first time after they were hammered 40-6 by Wales on Sunday following a shock defeat to Fiji.

It leaves the two-time winners with a slim chance of a top-two finish in Pool C with just minnows Portugal to play.

Former England coach Jones has come under intense scrutiny for the below-par displays amid rumours he secretly interviewed for the Japan coaching role before the tournament.

But Mortlock, who was coached by Jones during his first stint in charge of Australia between 2001 and 2005, insists they should stick with the man they only re-hired in January.

He told the BBC's Rugby Union Daily Podcast: "Eddie as a coach and leader is accountable, and he says this. I respect him that he wears it.

"But the worst thing Australia can do is get rid of him, to say you're not the best man for the job after only six months. Back your man, you picked him for a reason."

The 46-year-old backed Jones to lead the Wallabies into the next World Cup in 2027, which Australia are hosting.

He added: "It's about the next four years of rugby in our country. 

"He rolled the dice with youth for this World Cup — maybe if Australia were in what was perceived as a tougher pool, he would not have done this."

On the woeful display versus the Welsh in Lyon, Mortlock said: "It was like a train wreck. You hoped it wasn't going to come, but it was. 

"After 50 minutes, it was one-way traffic. I have been on the pitch when that has happened, you cannot just turn it around.

"I feel for the players, for the Australians who have made the trip over — sometimes that happens.

"Tier-one nations, it is not definite you will get to the quarter-finals, the gap between tier one and tier two is diminishing, which is a great thing for World Cups."