In a stunning post-match revelation, Japan’s head coach Eddie Jones has claimed he was verbally abused by a spectator during his team’s loss to England at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday. The incident allegedly took place as Jones was making his way to the locker room at halftime, souring what was supposed to be a triumphant homecoming for the Australian coach.
Jones, who coached England from 2015 to 2022 before being sacked last December, called the perpetrator a “clown” in his post-match comments. “It wasn’t bad until some clown abused me going down the stairs at half-time,” Jones told reporters. “If there’s only one clown in 81,634 that’s not bad. I’m disappointed with the result but it’s always good to come to the home of rugby.”
RFU Condemns Abuse, Praises Jones’ Legacy
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) was quick to condemn the alleged abuse, stating that “no coaches, players or match officials should be abused for doing their job.” Prior to the match, England hooker Jamie George had called on fans to show Jones the respect he deserved for his successful tenure as England’s head coach.
“Eddie is the most successful England coach we’ve ever had. I hope the crowd gives him the respect he deserves.”
– Jamie George, England hooker
Jones Fires Back at Danny Care’s “Dictatorship” Claims
The alleged abuse comes amidst recent controversy surrounding Jones, with former England scrum-half Danny Care accusing him of overseeing a “toxic environment” and running a “dictatorship” in his recently released autobiography. When asked about Care’s claims, Jones joked that he had signed a new book deal titled “Caring about Care” to tell his side of the story.
“I’ll tell you mate, I’ve got a new book deal. I just signed it today. It’s going to be called ‘Caring about Care’ and you’ll get all the details in there.”
– Eddie Jones, Japan head coach
England Triumphs, Borthwick Praises Team’s Growth
On the pitch, England put in a dominant performance to defeat Japan 59-14, ending their five-match losing streak and avoiding a fourth straight loss at Twickenham. New head coach Steve Borthwick praised his team’s bravery and growth over the autumn international series, despite narrow losses to New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.
“The obvious overriding feeling will be one of frustration to have come so close to getting results but not actually able to convert them in the first three weeks. The other aspect of it was real positivity around how the team plays. I want the team to be brave with the ball. I want them to play fast. I think we’ve seen growth in that area over the last four weeks.”
– Steve Borthwick, England head coach
Jones’ Bittersweet Twickenham Return
For Jones, the result and the alleged abuse incident made for a bittersweet return to the stadium where he enjoyed so much success with England. Under his leadership, the team won three Six Nations championships and reached the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Despite the loss, Jones remained gracious in defeat, praising the atmosphere and the quality of the England side. “There was a fantastic atmosphere. He said something, but I’m not going to repeat it here because I’ll get into trouble. Do you want me to get into trouble again?” he quipped when asked about the specifics of the alleged abuse.
Moving Forward
As both England and Japan look ahead to future challenges, the fallout from Jones’ abuse allegation and his ongoing war of words with former players like Care is sure to keep the rugby world talking. The RFU’s swift condemnation of the alleged abuse sends a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated, but it remains to be seen what further action, if any, will be taken.
For now, Jones and his Japan team will focus on bouncing back from the defeat, while Borthwick’s England will look to build on their positive autumn series as they prepare for the 2023 Six Nations and the upcoming World Cup. The rivalry between the two coaches, and the two nations, is sure to add an extra layer of intrigue to any future clashes on the rugby pitch.
