Beale in, Marky Mark snubbed as Schmidt makes first selection calls as Wallabies coach
Joe Schmidt has selected 16 players from the two Super Rugby teams that have missed the finals to keep training ahead of this winter's…
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.”
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