England coach Eddie Jones has issued himself with a media blackout in response to the outcry over his comments that he was concerned for the welfare of Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton.
Jones heightened tension between the rival camps before Saturday’s 21-10 Six Nations victory at Twickenham by stating that Sexton’s parents “would be worried” about the whiplash injury the British and Irish Lion suffered against France.
Jones’ willingness to bring Sexton’s family into his pre-match gamesmanship was widely condemned and is known to have been viewed dimly within the Irish camp, but the Australian has no regrets and will not speak to the media again for almost two weeks.
“From this press conference onwards I’m putting a media ban on myself,” Jones said at a feisty post-match press conference.
“I don’t want to do any scaremongering or do anything that offends the media or offends people’s parents.
“From now until next Friday before the Wales game I’m not talking to the media. So no-one will have to worry about scaremongering and all that type of thing.
“Mate, if I don’t say anything you come away from the press conference and say it’s boring.
“If I say something I’m scaremongering. I can’t win, so the easiest way is that I don’t come to the media conference.”
When asked if he regretted mentioning Sexton’s parents, Jones replied: “I don’t regret anything. Why would I regret it? Ireland said he had whiplash injuries, not me.
“It’s a sideshow – it’s finished. The main event is over. We’re not talking about the sideshow any more.”
Timbo
Guest
"But Aus is the home of some great sledges" I'm not sure everyone buys that. For many people the Clarke and Marsh reactions are the ones more closely associated with Aussie cricketers. Personally, my favourite one that occurred in Oz came from an English player. Mark Waugh to Jimmy Ormond on his Test debut, 2001: “Mate, what are you doing out here? There's no way you're good enough to play for England.” Ormond: “Maybe not, but at least I'm the best player in my family.” Although I did like the one Steve Waugh is supposed to have said in a Shield match when he was taking a lot of time with his guard when he came out to bat: Fielder: Come on Waugh; it's not a bloody test match. Waugh: Of course it's not............you're here.
rebel
Guest
So can I, yet you still persist with being outraged at fiction.
colvin
Guest
Neil, It's not something I can imagine many coaches saying, let alone an English born and bred coach. But Australia sometimes bends to a different tune. Michael Clarke said to English fast bowler Anderson "get ready for a broken F%!#ing arm" which was not perhaps his proudest moment. In Aus. it's called sledging. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. But it has a much better impact if it's delivered with humor. Like when Aus cricketer Marsh in NZ was given out caught and bowled when he was out caught and bowled but reckoned he shouldn't be out caught and bowled on a technicality, So he threw a tantrum. And NZ's Elliot asked him innocently "Oh we're not playing caught and bowled?". Which caused Marsh to lose it completely and he stormed off F#!%##%%# wishing everyone a happy day. But Aus is the home of some great sledges. One of the greatest sledges I heard of came in Australia against NZ fast bowler Bob Cunis. In Australia Bob quickly became known as ...NZ fast bowler Bob Cunis...neither one nor the other. Only in Australia.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Oh, I can pretty immediately think of bigger wastes of time.
cs
Roar Guru
Hah, hah! What a crack up. I'll be gobsmacked if the old blabbermouth lasts a week.
rebel
Guest
I thought he was the English national coach. Getting upset over things you imagine is a bit of a waste of time don't you think.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
What's really amusing in this 'sideshow' is imagining the massive self-righteous, racist indignation many people on here would be spewing forth if any or all of Eddie's utterances came from an English national coach. What would be even funnier would be watching 'em trying, no matter how inappropriate, to desperately work the 'arrogant' allegation into it all. Then they could all sit back easy in their lazy boys, crack a new one and let the old heartbeat return to pre hypertension ...... Btw, fear not, Eddie doesn't mean it. He'll be back
colvin
Guest
“If I say something I’m scaremongering. I can’t win, so the easiest way is that I don’t come to the media conference.” No, you can have press conferences and maintain your standards. There's no place in rugby for those comments on Sexton.