Eddie Jones clashed with a reporter after the Wallabies’ dismal loss to South Africa in Pretoria, accusing him of being a “smartarse” in a tense press convention trade.
Jones’ first Test since his return as Australia coach led to a 43-12 defeat to a South African squad that had already despatched 12 gamers to New Zealand forward of subsequent week’s Test towards the All Blacks.
Jones took exception post-match when a reporter stated to him: “Eddie, you expressed your disappointment in the week that you weren’t playing the first-choice Springboks side. Is that a bit of relief now?”
MATCH REPORT: Jones period begins with humiliating Wallabies defeat
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Springboks spoil Jones’ Wallabies return | 01:30
“South Africans are good at winning. You don’t have to be a smartarse mate,” Jones stated.
“We were well and truly beaten today by a Springboks side that old mate is calling the B-team, right? I never knew there was a Springboks side that was called the B-team.”
Jones confronted the reporter once more after the press convention was concluded.
“You don’t have to be a smartarse mate,” Jones stated once more. “You should have more respect mate. I never said that mate. I said we always want to play the best. Show some respect.”
Jones stated he endured “a long day at the office” in Pretoria.
“We just got beaten to the punch,” he admitted after Australia suffered an eighth consecutive loss at Loftus Versfeld since first taking part in there 60 years in the past.
“We really got beaten in the set pieces. We got beaten on the gain line. We got beaten in the air,” stated Jones.
“When you do not win any of those contests, it is going to be a long day at the office, which it was for us tonight.
“There was not too many positives. We went out there to play with a bit of pace and were able to do that for 20 minutes.
“But we were unable to convert any of the pressure we put on the Springboks into points and then, of course, they came back and every time they got an opportunity, they scored.
“Once they got on top at the set piece, they utilised their big ball runners, and there is no better team than South Africa, once they get an edge, to keep playing on top of you.” Jones inherited in January from sacked New Zealander Dave Rennie a staff that misplaced 9 of 13 internationals final season.
But the 63-year-old doesn’t envisage an analogous dismal run this season as they put together for the Rugby World Cup in France from September 8.
Looking forward to their second Rugby Championship match, towards Argentina in Sydney on July 15, Jones stated he was inspired by the lineout work towards South Africa.
“However, we must be more consistent in our set pieces. Our scrumming has to improve and we have got to find ways of getting over the gain line.
“If we fix those issues we will be back in the money against Argentina,” stated the coach who was additionally accountable for Australia for 4 years from 2001 and led them to the 2003 World Cup remaining.
Jones singled out the Australian strive scorers, winger Marika Koroibete and substitute again Carter Gordon, for reward.
“I thought Marika was outstanding and Carter, coming on for his first Test in a difficult situation, showed he has a bright future.” Argentina fared virtually as badly as Australia within the first spherical, conceding seven tries to New Zealand in a 41-12 loss in Mendoza and avoiding backside place on factors distinction
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
