Eddie Jones criticises Rassie Erasmus as 'disrespectful to the referee'
England boss Eddie Jones has criticised South African counterpart Rassie Erasmus for his hour-long video attack on Aussie official Nic Berry’s refereeing of the first test between the Springboks and the Lions.
Speaking to BBC Five Live, Jones called for further work to improve the standards of officiating before adding: "But there is an appropriate way to do it and that is being respectful to the referee."
England’s head coach has himself been reprimanded for comments made about match officials during his long coaching career which has featured stints in charge of Australia and Japan.
But while he believes room for improvement exists in a number of refereeing areas – especially the breakdown – he is also mindful of protecting the sport’s traditionally respectful approach.
"I think the game is in a good place but we have to be careful,” he said.
“I think there are some issues in the game we need to look at very carefully and I think one of them is the diligence of the referees to referee the important parts of the game well.
"Rassie made his famous video and I don't think that is correct.
“But we need to make sure the referees work as a three a lot harder than they do at the moment to ensure that particularly at the breakdown we get what we need to get, which is a fair contest between contest and continuity.
"But there is an appropriate way to do it, and that is being respectful to the referee."
Little news has emerged about the ongoing World Rugby disciplinary process against Erasmus and England’s veteran boss believes this slow tempo is prolonging the agony while also doing little to set an example lower down the tree.
"It should be dealt with quickly," Jones said.
"We need to make sure that we have respect in the game because we are asking kids to be respectful to the referee.
“If they see examples of players or coaches being disrespectful to the referee it gives them an excuse to do it at their level."
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My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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