Israel Folau was booed after scoring a try for the World XV as former England coach Eddie Jones tasted success on his return to Twickenham with the Barbarians in a close battle.
Folau was given the harsh reception by some in the 32,500 crowd when he scored on of the 14 tries in the BaaBaas 48-42 win.
Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 after making anti-gay comments on social media and the Rugby Football Union flew a Pride flag at Twickenham in response to his selection by World XV coach Steve Hansen.
Israel Folau of World XV is tackled by Tevita Li of Barbarians. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
The same venue had booed off Jones at end of his seven year reign with the England national team that ended in December.
But he was warmly received as he led his team through the Twickenham gates.
Jones said: “It was fantastic to be back. It brought back good memories.
“As a coach you rarely get to leave on your own terms but I spent seven years here, the longest I’ve ever coach a team, so I loved every minute of being back. The sun was shining so no overcoat or scarf, fantastic.”
There was a concern for Australia with Samu Kerevi being forced off with an injury in the opening 20 minutes.
Jones played down fears of anything major.
“Just a tiny little strain in his hamstring,” he said. “It’s to be expected coming back from a knee recon. I liked what I saw. Powerful, quick, incisive. We will get him right for the Rugby Championship and then for the World Cup.
Kerevi and Quade Coop[er started the game and Jones said the week of training had been useful.
“They have had a whole week together,” he said. “It’s been useful. It’s been like having a mini-training camp with those two there for the Wallabies. We thank the Barbarians for doing that.”
Jones enjoyed his return to coaching ahead of the Jult Rugby Championship Tests.
“I have had a smile all week, being able to coach on the field, practice getting a team together in a short period of time. A lot of it is the players but you have got to know when to give them room and when to step in. It was great practice for me. Invaluable,” he said.
Jones, meanwhile, said he didn’t hear the booing of Folau.
“I didn’t hear it, I was watching the game,” he said.
“We want all good players to be playing international rugby and for him [Folau] to get the opportunity to play again, that three-year rule from World Rugby is a very sensible rule. It gives players who have represented other countries and have natural allegiances to another country a chance to play. That is very good.”
Guess
Roar Rookie
Dunno some dogs?
Guess
Roar Rookie
Did you say yes?
USrugger
Roar Rookie
Not sure I even understand. What on earth have LGBTQ, or atheists for that matter, have anything...ANYTHING...to do with adulterers, thieves, drunks or liars or morality in general? Your morality compass is broken.
pm
Roar Rookie
He is for sure but I hope CG plays some tests this year too.
Cannonball
Roar Rookie
That doesn’t surprise me, was a different time and little respect for our Pacific neighbours. Sad though…if true, should have been seen as mitigation. I was in colts when he played in WA and loved the way Tom drove through the tackle. Great fun to watch!
Ruckin' Oaf
Roar Rookie
adulterers? thieves? atheists? drunks? liars? Now generally speaking most of that group would be on the morally grey side, if not actually immoral. Certainly liars, adulterers and thieves would be. Being gay however is not actually immoral. Not even a little bit morally dubious. So grouping gay folk in with those others creates something of a false equivalency. Which is somewhat offensive.
Ruckin' Oaf
Roar Rookie
Did you mean you're ?
Kai Levuka
Roar Rookie
The story I heard was that he was being sent off for something and the spectators were giving him some racial abuse so he got into a fight with them. Not good. He could hit. I certainly wouldn’t want to fight him!
Cannonball
Roar Rookie
Ilie Tabua- yes his brother - tackle machine. I think you’re right, Tom got into a fight with spectators or something similar :laughing:
KCR
Roar Rookie
This was a good fun game to watch, seeing Quade and Radradra running free in an exhibition match was brilliant. Also happy that most comments here have ignored the title and focused on the match. Keep Calm and watch Rugby. KCR
Kai Levuka
Roar Rookie
Didn’t Tom get suspended for life or something like that? It certainly was a long time! I don’t think he is but I can tell you that Tom was the brother of the ‘Human Skewer’ Ilie Tabua who absolutely decimated the Springboks way back when. I think John Smit still has nightmares about that day.
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
that last sentence should have been "given the expensive signing of a prospect from League three years later using money that didn't belong to RA or Qld."
Dean
Roar Rookie
Rodda, Lucas and Hocking all left during COVID over the penalty that all players received. Can't say I disagree with them given the expensive signing of a prospect from League.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
The Wallabies is very likely to go deep into the RWC just a logical outcome from a very favourable draw. They don’t even have to play well to make the semifinals.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Yes watched game suprised if Eddie doesn’t show more interest in him…very surprised TBH.
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
Didn't he have a gig with the reds but he decided to go to Japan and chase the money.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Headlines get clicks. Feel that one was written before the game.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Your one of those dogs aren't you?
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
:laughing: as someone who went to a catholic school, i would say that Christian brothers and priests aren't exactly the people we should be taking our moral lessons from.
Thing Me
Roar Rookie
As long as we don't go seeking mercenaries from other codes.