England rugby coach Eddie Jones explodes over ‘traitor’ sledge

A video has emerged of Aussie-born English rugby coach Eddie Jones blowing up deluxe after an ugly heckle from a Wallabies fan.

Eddie Jones was not happy. Photo: Twitter

A spectator has earned a furious response from England rugby coach Eddie Jones.

Video spread on social media of the incident after England won a series in Australia for just the second time, downing the Wallabies 21-17 in the three-match series decider.

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Jones orchestrated the previous victory as well as England claimed a whitewash in 2016.

The 62-year-old Aussie previously coached Australia between 2001 but he was sacked in 2005. His stint included Australia’s runner up finish at the 2003 World Cup.

After that, he was technical adviser for South Africa at the 2007 World Cup, was the Japanese coach between 2012 and the 2015 World Cup and was then picked up by England.

However, despite a long history and the fact Australia sacked him, a fan decided to reopen old wounds.

The fan at the SCG yelled as Jones walked by: “You’re a traitor”.

Jones immediately reacted, taking aim at the fan.

“What did you say? What did you say?” Jones yelled as he tried to get by security.

“Come here and say it. Come here and say it. Come here and say it.”

Eddie Jones was not happy. Photo: Twitter

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Jones had been abused by the same fan at halftime as well as full-time and security told the man: “I’ve spoken to you before, walk away”.

Former Wallaby and author Peter FitzSimons tweeted of the incident: “The security bloke did very well to keep them apart. And of course Eddie is not ‘a traitor’. He’s a proud Australian, plying his fare overseas.”

CODE Sports’ Adam Peacock posted the video and wrote: “Got what he deserved from Eddie”.

Although Jones didn’t discuss the incident directly after the third match, but Fox Sports reported he said: “Clowns think they can abuse coaches” when contacted on Sunday.

However, he delighted in England’s performance in the second Test when they silenced the Suncorp Stadium crowd.

“You have got 48,000 people all full of drink and all they want to see is their team win,” Jones said.

“When you turn them away, it is a great experience. A great feeling.

“I was coming out from the coaches’ box and they all have their scarves on. When did Australians start wearing scarves? It is all the rage, isn’t it? They are not so smart now.

“Before the game, they are coming up saying to me, ‘You are going to get belted tonight.’ Now they are a little bit more quiet. So that’s good. I enjoy that.”

The traitor tag has been levelled unfairly at Jones in the past.

Australia sacked him, why can’t he go get another job? Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

In 2007 when Jones signed with South Africa for the World Cup, he was questioned by many in the Australian rugby community.

“I’ve got a clear conscience,” he said at the time. “November 2005 was the last time I coached Australia.

“Since then there have been numerous offers from various teams to help. I had distanced myself from them.

“But the divorce settlement (with Australian Rugby) is final now and I’ve moved on. All I’m doing is acting as a coach.

“I don’t feel I’ve been disloyal to Australia. The only side I coached in the last 12 months was Queensland and that revolved around my coaching, no-one else’s.”

In 2016 after he took on the England job and masterminded the whitewash in Australia, then Wallabies coach Michael Cheika took aim at Jones as well.

“There was a lot of vitriol from him about Australia — his home nation where he coached and where his opportunities were given to him,” Cheika said at the time.

“It was like someone who scores against his old team. I suppose it is always difficult when you go back against a side you have coached before and don’t know how to play it.

“Do you stay reserved or get stuck into them? I know what I would do.”

Jones accused the Aussies and Cheika of running a witch hunt against the English in the media.