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"Eddie Jones is the Donald Trump of rugby" | Six Nations review

Eddie Jones is becoming the "Donald Trump of rugby union" after his comments on Manu Tuilagi's ta...



Rugby

"Eddie Jones is the Donald Trump of rugby" | Six Nations review


Eddie Jones is becoming the "Donald Trump of rugby union" after his comments on Manu Tuilagi's tackle, says BBC Scotland's Tom English.

English joined Wednesday Night Rugby to discuss the Six Nations situation, in light of postponements and the potential problems these will cause.

Jones commented after England's win over Wales that the side had trained for a situation of "13 against 16".

Jones: too far?

But it was the situation regarding Jones that had so bemused English, as he explained.

"It was a stone cold red card, even some of the England players have said that it was. Manu Tuilagi's reaction was of a man that knew he had got it wrong.

"Eddie Jones, in his ivory tower, is making excuses. I have had enough of him.

"He is fast turning into the Donald Trump of rugby union, in that he can just come out with these outrageous things - and he has so many of them that you struggle to keep track.

"I think we should stop at this point and say 'hang on a second, you just accused a referee of bias here.'

"We cannot let this stand, we have to do something about this. But rugby [...] won't do anything about it.

"If a player had said it, they would probably get a ban. Why should the man in charge of the player get away with it?"

Eddie Jones mischief

English believes that the situation belies a difference between players and management in how they are regarded by rugby authorities.

"The thing that troubles me is that players can get sanctioned - yellow card, red card, a ban. Whereas coaches never seem to get sanctioned.

"Eddie Jones has crossed the line numerous times.

"When he said that they were playing against 16 with 13, I think that is one of the worst quotes I have heard from a rugby coach, possibly the worst I have ever heard.

"Because now he was saying that the referee was a cheat - effectively, he is saying that the referee cheated.

"I haven't heard it said in such a stark way before - maybe it has been and I have missed it.

"He said it - it was blatant and it was brazen - and there doesn't seem to be any charge against him.

"Why? If a player gets a tackle wrong, he is going to get a card or a ban. It could affect his place in the team and his livelihood.

"Whereas Eddie Jones seems to have carte-blanche to mouth off left, right and centre and nothing seems to happen to him.

"The game is not set up to punish him."

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