"Some clown abused me!" – 5 Talking Points: Eddie Jones' incredible post match press conference after England's win against Japan

Yesterday at 03:25 PM

Despite coming off the back of a 59-14 defeat to England, Japan head coach Eddie Jones entered the Allianz Stadium media center with a big grin on his face. The Australian is without a doubt one of the most charismatic figures in world rugby, and he was at his very best in the post match press conference this afternoon.

Jones addressed everything from a ‘clown’ of an England fan that yelled abuse at him, to how he is planning to dedicate a chapter in an upcoming book to Danny Care. Here are the top five talking points from Eddie Jones’ press conference.

1. “Some clown abused me” – Eddie gets a less than warm reception from an Allianz Stadium spectator

After the initial discussion on his team’s performance was taken cared of, Jones was asked whether he had enjoyed his day back at the home of English Rugby. Jones expressed how he had been happy for the most part, besides from a choice encounter with a fan whom he dubbed a ‘clown’.

EDDIE JONES: “It wasn’t bad until some clown abused me going down at half-time. If here’s only one clown in 81,634 it’s not too bad. So it was good. Obviously disappointed with the result but it always good to come to the home of rugby.

“Fantastic atmosphere. And again, for our players to experience that, having now experienced Stade de France and now experience Twickenham when they’re in their first 10 caps, it’s like gold that knowledge of what they need to do to be able to compete in this area and win in this area. So, yeah, pretty good, man.”

“You enjoy the day? Yeah, good, good. I’m happy. The press is happy then I’m happy.”

The RFU have since issued a response regarding the statement made by Eddie Jones:

"No coaches, players or match officials should be abused for doing their job."

2. “Caring about Care” – Danny Care book retort – Jones is set to bring out his own side to the story

There was plenty of discussion in the pre-match week, regarding what Danny Care wrote in his latest autobiography. The Harlequins scrum half used the phrases like ‘dictator’ who ‘ruled by fear’ to describe Eddie Jones’ time in charge of England. The Australian was asked whether he agreed with the remarks. Jones was equipped for such questions, with all set to be revealed in a his supposed upcoming book.

EDDIE JONES: “I'll tell you mate, I've got a new book deal. I just signed it today. It's going to be called "Caring about Care" and you'll get all the details in there. I've got pre-order forms up here, you can come up and get a pre-order forms. Get them hot. I'm trying to do a deal with the Daily Mail, but we haven't come to an agreement yet. If you want to read about it, there you go, it'll be a good one.

“I'm serious mate. I'm very serious. I'm very serious, mate. If you want to read about it, read it in my book. That's how you get headline, so I'll put a whole chapter in there "Caring about Care", just for you.”

3.‘Cunningham-South, Roebuck, Freeman and Lawrence’ – Jones picks his stand out England players for the future

Looking at his opposition of the evening, and Eddie Jones was impressed by an assortment of the younger members of Steve Borthwick’s England squad. Jones expressed how the side has been solid in their transition despite an disappointing run of results, and name-checked a quartet of talents that stood out to him against the Brave Blossoms.

EDDIE JONES: It’s one of those difficult periods. The team’s obviously in transition. You’ve got some young guys coming through. There are some good young players there. Chandler Cunningham-South looks a prospect. Freeman’s starting to come through and Roebuck’s starting to come through.

Ollie Lawrence is getting some consistency in his play. It’s the moulding of the team where you have a lot of the guys from the 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cups, so you always get that little sticky period where in the big games it doesn’t quite work and you get beaten by a point or two points or a penalty goal. I think they’re going in the right direction.

“The way they want to play, today they gave a lesson in pressure ruby. Every time they got on to the front foot they put the ball behind and chased hard. We got suffocated and they played really well. Knowing Steve fairly well I think that’s how he wants to play. It’s going to take some time but they’re going in the right direction and they put on a good display of rugby today.”

4.‘He’ll enjoy his orange juice tonight’ – Jones happy that Steve Borthwick will escape media scrutiny

Having been at the helm of the England team from 2016 to 2022, Jones knew all too well the challenges and criticism that comes with the role. Jones was able to look for the silver lining despite the heavy defeat, as he was glad that England head coach Steve Borthwick will be out of the media firing line for at least the next week.

EDDIE JONES: “Today, our line-out was poor. Our scrum wasn’t good, and we struggled to compete in the game then. But they’re a really young team. We’ve just got to accept it as part of the process. We’ve just got to stick at it. So, yeah, we’ve been up and down in the season. I don’t think there’s anything we’ve massively improved in, or anything we’ve massively got worse in, it’s just been really up and down, and we’ve just got to stick at it.

“And congratulations to England today, and to Steve. I’m glad he won’t have you blokes honing him for at least seven days anyway, so I’m pleased for that. I’m sure he’s going to enjoy his orange juice tonight.”

5.“Got that bit of electricity” – Jones impressed by Marcus Smith’s England progression after debut

Another stand out player who Eddie Jones pinpointed in the England team, was the continued progression of Marcus Smith as the starting fly half. The Harlequin talisman has had the England 10 jersey firmly in his grasps this Autumn, with a quartet of starting performances against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Japan. Jones holds the accolade of being the man who introduced Smith to the England squad, when England had a pre-Rugby World Cup training camp in Brighton, back in the Summer of 2019.

EDDIE JONES: “I look at Marcus today, having brought him in when he was young, and now he’s like, he’s so competent in his decision making. Yeah, he makes the right decisions most of the time. He’s composed. He’s still got that bit of electricity, but now he’s 40 tests, you know? And that’s what you get from 40 tests. So, yeah, we’re just going to be patient.”

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