Rugby in Australia has faced a series of challenges recently including a World Cup pool exit, a prolonged Bledisloe Cup drought, and the departure of a major sponsor. Despite this, former Wallaby Andrew Blades feels that the sport is actually in better shape than many people think. Blades is not convinced that Eddie Jones, who took over as Wallabies head coach at the start of the year, is the answer to Australian rugby’s problems. Blades also expressed concerns about the lack of talent coming through the system, the falling reputation of Super Rugby, and the financial constraints faced by young players. He believes that Rugby Australia needs to focus on properly funding and supporting the grassroots level of the sport in order to ensure the long-term success of rugby in the country.