- Eddie Jones says some of the rugby media are ‘idiots’
- Says there’s no toughness in Australian rugby now
- New documentary premieres February 22, only on Stan
Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has delivered one last stinging insult to Australian rugby, saying it has “no toughness” and labeling sections of the code’s media as “idiots”.
Jones has criticized reporters before they flew to France for the World Cup, telling them to ‘give yourself an uppercut’ and has now given them a second dose in Stan’s new documentary series, The Wallabies.
‘I thought it was ridiculous. And it shows the scarcity of Australian rugby journalism at the moment,” he says in the three-part series on the ill-fated campaign.
“Australian rugby is in a bad place and you’ve got some idiots parading around like journalists asking questions about players who have been left out.
‘We’re about to go on a World Cup (tour) with a bunch of young players who deserve a chance. I thought it was completely out of context and completely inappropriate.”
Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones continues to make headlines after his departure
Jones says in the Stan documentary ‘The Wallabies’ that Australian rugby lacks toughness
Elsewhere in the compelling documentary, Jones unleashes sharp criticism of Aussie rugby following the side’s 40-6 defeat to Wales in Lyon.
“That’s the problem, buddy. We don’t have any toughness about us,” Jones told veteran James Slipper.
“Like, you know, game toughness is different than any toughness — if you just stay in the damn game and do it.
‘There is nothing like that anymore in Australian rugby. And that’s where the big hole is, buddy. Like looking at those Welsh players, mate. They play thirty matches a year.
‘They are hardened, tough players, so they can just get on with it. They know they have to do it. And we’ve just lost that in Australian rugby.”
Slipper listens in, but does not respond to his coach.
“We’re not tough, but we’re not trained to be tough now and we’re not used to playing tough,” Jones continued.
Jones says the Australian players were not hardened to play test match rugby
‘As if it’s an exception to play hard now instead of normally. It stands out like dog balls, buddy. Because they are good players and they care a lot about the players, they are just not hardened to play Test match rugby consistently.
“Prepared for failure, buddy.”
Stan’s The Wallabies – Inside Rugby World Cup 2023 can be viewed in Australia from February 22.