Eddie Jones clashes with reporter after Wallabies embarrassment
After the Wallabies were crushed by South Africa, head coach Eddie Jones was left fuming over a line of questioning from one reporter.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has ripped into a South African journalist in the aftermath of the Springboks' 43-12 defeat in Pretoria, accusing him of being a 'smartarse'. South Africa, absent several members of their starting lineup after they were sent to New Zealand ahead of the upcoming Test against the All Blacks, comprehensively outplayed the Wallabies in Jones' first game back as coach of Australia.
Jones had said he was disappointed not to be facing a full-strength South Africa ahead of the match, words he may have come to regret after what was described as a 'B-team' put the Wallabies to the sword on Saturday night. One reporter in the post-match press conference made reference to Jones' 'disappointment' over the Springboks' lineup, before asking if it was a 'relief' that South Africa hadn't been at full strength.
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“South Africans are good at winning. You don’t have to be a smartarse mate,” Jones replied.
“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.”
However that wasn't the end of things. Jones reportedly rounded on the journalist after the press conference concluded, once again ripping into him over the nature of his question.
“You don’t have to be a smartarse mate,” Jones repeated. “You should have more respect mate.
"I never said that mate. I said we always want to play the best. Show some respect.”
Wallabies thumped by South Africa in Rugby Championship opener
While he had taken exception to that line of questioning, Jones freely admitted after the game that the Wallabies had been well and truly outplayed in all facets of the game. He said he remained optimistic about Australia's prospects for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in September, but said they would need to improve in all areas.
“We just got beaten to the punch,” he said. “We really got beaten in the set pieces. We got beaten on the gain line. We got beaten in the air.
“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.”
The Wallabies led early with star winger Marika Koroibete scoring but from that point were out-muscled by the physical Springboks. Making more than double the amount of tackles, they were always on the back foot with the forwards unable to lay any kind of platform for five-eighth Quade Cooper to orchestrate the attack.
They resorted to repeatedly kicking away possession which kept them under the pump in defence and a 17-5 half-time scoreline blew out with the Wallabies also giving up two penalty tries.
The Australians only have a few days to turn around the loss, hosting Argentina on Saturday night in Sydney.
With AAP
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