Eddie Jones was embroiled in angry talks with Australian supporters who accused the England head coach of being a “traitor” after Saturday’s decider in Sydney. Rugby Australia condemned the behavior as “completely unacceptable” after videos emerged on social media of Jones reacting furiously to the insults.
Videos of two incidents emerged after England’s 21-17 win in Sydney to end the series. In one of the incidents, a supporter seen holding a beer can be heard being urged to “spray” Australian-born Jones before pointing at the former Wallabies head coach and saying “you’re a traitor”.
Jones, who was with Rugby Union and stadium security at the time, was apparently offended by the taunt and approached the fan before replying: ‘What did you say? What did you say? Come here and say it. Come here and say it. Come here and say it.
Another security guard can also be heard telling the supporter: “I’ve spoken to you before.” In the second video, Jones is again called a “traitor” and an “angry little man,” and he responds with the same fury.
In a separate incident, a man was charged by police after he climbed onto the big screen and urinated from the roof of the O’Reilly Stand during the second half of the game.
Jones is known to have been taunted and insulted on several occasions at the Sydney Cricket Ground and subjected to inappropriate comments. Jones did not speak about the incidents in his post-match press conference, but when contacted by the Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday, he said: “The clowns think they have full power to abuse coaches.”
Jones is extending his stay in Australia and will spend next week in Melbourne, while the player and team fly home on Sunday. The RFU has decided not to comment on the incidents.
Jones previously hinted at such violence after the second Test win in Brisbane when he said he took great pleasure in shutting up the Wallabies supporters who booed him after England’s first loss in Perth. “You’ve got 48,000 people all full of booze and all they want to see is their team win,” he said. “When you push them away, it’s a great experience. Great feeling. I was coming out of the coaches box and everyone was wearing scarves. When did Australians start wearing scarves? That’s what fashion is all about, right? They’re not so smart now. Before the game, they come to me and say, “You’re going to be belted tonight.” They’re a little quieter now. So that’s good. I enjoy it.”
Jones has been involved in similar unpleasant incidents before, with Ellis Genge revealing they were both abused by supporters during the South Africa tour in 2018. Jones was also the victim of verbal abuse at Manchester train station when he was goaded by Scotland supporters the day after England’s Calcutta Cup defeat in 2018. Two years later, as he prepared for his first return to Murrayfield, Jones said: “It happens every day. What do you think happens when I walk down the street? Some people say nice things, some people fall for you. It happens every day. If you didn’t want it, don’t do this job.”
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