Rugby World Cup 2019: World Rugby chief issues stinging response to Eddie Jones criticism
England head coach has twice hit out at the governing body during the recent World Cup warm-ups, first launching into an unprovoked tirade over the punishment of high tackles before criticising referees during their warm-up games against Wales
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Your support makes all the difference.Eddie Jones’s first day back in Japan went from bad to worse after World Rugby’s chief executive Brett Gosper issued a stinging response to the England boss’s recent referee criticism, reminding him that he is no different to players and should keep to “fact rather than hearsay”.
England suffered a five-hour delay upon arrival at Tokyo Narita International, resulting in the team and staff taking refuge until their transfer could reach the airport after the ferocious Typhoon Faxai hit mainland Japan on Monday morning.
But once the team eventually departed for their 66km journey to Shiodome in central Tokyo, Jones found himself the subject of a firm rebuke from the World Rugby boss.
The England head coach has twice hit out at the governing body during the recent World Cup warm-ups, first launching into an unprovoked tirade over the punishment of high tackles before criticising referees during their warm-up games against Wales.
Jones’s criticism of the high-tackle laws – which followed New Zealand lock Scott Barrett’s red card during his side’s defeat by Australia last month – was the most eye-raising, given that he was a consultant to World Rugby’s Law Review Group that brought in the harsher treatment of players guilty of high tackles.
Asked about Jones’s recent comments, Gosper initially joked before issuing a sterner response to his fellow Australian: “You can’t help but smile sometimes!
“These coaches are under a lot of pressure," Gosper told the Press Association. "They’re very results orientated and they don’t want to let anything get in the way of them achieving what they need to achieve. Sometimes that means pointing the finger elsewhere. I get that.
“What we’re concerned about is that coaches are no different to players in that they should respect the referees. If they have an issue around refereeing then they should go through the appropriate channels in the appropriate way. If they want to talk about World Rugby, then hopefully it’s founded on some fact rather than just hearsay.”
Twice Jones criticised referees following the games against Wales, targeting Mathieu Raynal for the way he judged potential red-card offences in their Twickenham clash and accusing Pascal Gauzere of losing control of the players early in the hotly-charged and fiery Cardiff return.
Jones has also criticised how strict the governing body is in disciplining those who speak out against them.
“You’re not allowed to comment on referees,” Jones said at Twickenham on 11 August following the victory over Wales. “World Rugby are like Big Brother, they have facial recognition everywhere. You say one word and you’re in trouble.”
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