Eddie Jones has suffered a backlash after seemingly innocuous comments about British tennis darling Emma Raducanu.
Jones, speaking after England’s weekend thrashing of Tonga, was talking about the progress of his young No.10 Marcus Smith, and used the US Open winner Raducanu as a cautionary example around focus.
“The big thing for good young players is distractions … there’s a reason why the young girl who won the US Open hasn’t done so well afterwards,” said Jones, without naming Raducanu, who has struggled for form since her miracle win.
“What have you seen her on – the front page of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar or whatever it is, wearing Christian Dior clothes,” he said. “All that is a distraction around her.”
(Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
Raducanu’s photoshoot for fashion magazione Vogue took place shortly after Wimbledon. She then surprised all by winning the US Open as a qualifier. This week she broke into the top 20 for the first time.
Jones’ comments prompted criticism on social media. The BBC sports presenter Gabby Logan called Jones’s comments “unbelievably unfair and not even remotely comparable … imagine an 18-year-old rugby player winning a World Cup having never played a club game.”
Former British No 1 Jo Durie called Jones’s comments sexist. “Emma isn’t a girl; she is an 18-year-old woman. No one ever complains about blokes going to galas; it’s always something that is thrown at women,” Durie told the Telegraph. “Unfortunately, when you’re this famous, everybody likes to have their opinion about you.”
Former hockey Olympic gold medallist Kate Richardson-Walsh added: ““It’s certainly important for everyone to think about distractions … It’s also really important not to be an ill-informed, patronising, hypocritical misogynist.”
But ex England rugby forward James Haskell said: “Honestly how you think this is sexist is beyond me.
“It’s a point about distraction and the pitfalls of fame; that can happen to anyone. I can see you desperately want to incite the cancel mob, but you are going to need to do better than that.”
GregM
Roar Rookie
the wunderking would have a target on their back with everyone looking to knock them down a peg or 3 quick smart
GregM
Roar Rookie
Marshy - self flagellation - me mum said I'd go blind if I kept doing it)
GregM
Roar Rookie
maybe as Eddie is half Japanese he can claim it is the confusion of the English language?
GregM
Roar Rookie
“Noun 1. young girl – a girl or young woman who is unmarriedy” (some say between the ages of 15-22 depending on which online dictionary you look at). https://www.thefreedictionary.com/young+girl. Try reading a dictionary JC, many words / phrases have more than 1 meaning despite you only knowing 1 of them
robel
Roar Pro
Eddie was right, she lost to #107. Just more noise from the outrage mob.
Simoc
Guest
How limp is the fool Durie! The lights on but there is nobody home. But Emmas problem is that she went from being the hunter to the hunted overnight. Life will never be easy again on the tennis court. A grand slam winner is a prize scalp and her game is similar to pretty much all the top 100 female players bar Ash Barty. I doubt she will win another in the next 5 years.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Good point Malotru, I will blame my partner for that if I do. :silly:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Enjoy it mate and the market also, you are ok this time so no need to stay in the car. :thumbup:
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Very well thank you Mad Kiwi. We are off to Hobart for the weekend on Friday for a touch of the 'big' smoke, hoping for a better result than the last effort when Hobart went into lockdown and we came home without getting out of the car!
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Less of the alcohol MK, that should prevent you from falling..
GregM
Roar Rookie
was Eddie right? Have the wheels fallen off the wagon already? https://au.sports.yahoo.com/tennis-2021-emma-raducanu-caught-ridiculous-furore-225220169.html
aussikiwi
Guest
Almost all of the squealing is coming from people of your ilk. Most peoplw think it's just Eddie mouthing off (inappropriately) again. Quite ironic considering that the Right purports to support free speech. To use the loaded, meaningless jargon of the Right, critics of Eddie are being cancelled :laughing:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
We are also at the edge of the World! I am still worried about falling over that edge. :laughing:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
You are right as we do have many areas to go to and enjoy, admittedly I need to see more for sure. I am well just relaxing, how are things with you mate?
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Mithton is what some local people call Smithton stillmissit. Madkiwi will know that I expect.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Apparently so MK. I believe there are a number of air monitoring stations around the planet and the one at Cape Grim consistently records the cleanest air around. You only have to take a deep breath when you get off the plane in Lonnie to know that the air quality in Tas is wonderful.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Yes Mad Kiwi, we've been to Arthur River, and Marawah is pretty special. Trowutta Arch is on the to do list. It's remarkable how visitors underestimate what there is to see in Tas. Up our way there's Gunns Plains, Leven Canyon, Devil's Gullet, Guide Falls, Mole Creek to name a few and Wynyard is not too far. Aren't we lucky? Trust all is well with you MK.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
You softy still :laughing: Diving sounds good for sure! It would be great to catch up next year and you are welcome to stay here, also google Dip Falls.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
"Post Modern Feminism" Some phenomena can pass one by, unworthy of the time wasted in trying to decipher the sophisticated words invented to add gravity to some obsessive's consuming hobby, let alone paying heed to their crusade. I assume that term has something to do with wymminses being better than blokes at just everything, so it earns summary dismissal right from the start. :stoked:
stillmissit
Roar Guru
MK, clean air if fine but the cold is not so good. Tassie needs a dose of climate change to get me to live there. Could have stayed in whinging pommie land if I wanted that climate! I will be down there next year, either early autumn or late spring. Need to get some diving in first as soon as they open up Bali.