Eddie Jones is to be reunited with eight of his World Cup Wallabies when he takes charge of a Barbarians invitation team in Cardiff - just five days after quitting as Australia coach.

In his first public appearance since his resignation on Tuesday, Jones told reporters on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) he believed his job as Australia coach would have been compromised had he stayed in the role.

It's ironic that in his first job since the end of his reign as national coach that Jones will be guiding not just eight Wallabies who failed to get past the group stage at the World Cup but also two he left out the squad amid much controversy.

For both flanker Michael Hooper, the veteran star whose exclusion was emblematic of Jones's gamble on youth in France, and fit-again centre Len Ikitau will be in the Barbarians' starting XV to play Wales at the Principality Stadium on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).

Eddie Jones was in outspoken mood in his first public outing since quitting the Wallabies' job.

Jones has picked six - starters Rob Leota and Rob Valetini, and replacements Angus Bell, Tom Hooper, Ben Donaldson and Andrew Kellaway - who all featured in the record 40-6 hiding by Wales that sealed Australia's fate at the World Cup.

Prop Taniela Tupou and Izaia Perese, also in Jones's France squad, will be in Saturday's starting line-up too.

Asked about his resignation in Cardiff on Wednesday, Jones told reporters: "Post-World Cup there was always going to be a decision to be made whether we were going to change Australian rugby or not.

"I went in with a plan and had a commitment from Rugby Australia what that looked like.

"When the unity of where we were going wasn't the same - not because of the lack of desire from Rugby Australia but there's other forces at play - then the only thing I could do was resign.

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