NEVER AGAIN
England coach Eddie says he can’t use public transport after abuse on train back from Scotland defeat
EDDIE JONES has vowed never again to use public transport after being subjected to verbal and physical abuse on trains home from Scotland.
The England boss feared for his safety after being targeted on two separate journeys back from his side’s shock Calcutta Cup defeat.
Asked if the abuse was verbal or physical, he said: “A bit of both. It wasn’t comfortable.”
He added: “I try and do the right thing by the fans. But if that happens, you’ve got to have a look at your own safety.”
Jones returned on a standard class ticket via Manchester, where he watched United beat Chelsea in the company of Sir Alex Ferguson.
He suggested the yobs involved had been incited by remarks made in the run-up to the Six Nations clash by Scottish legend Gavin Hastings and current Scotland prop Simon Berghan. Hastings was quoted as saying ‘‘…as a supporter of one of his opponents you just want to rub his face in the dirt’’.
Berghan spoke of how much ‘‘everyone hates England’’.
Jones, clearly shocked by his ordeal, said: “I’m a human being. I don’t consider myself any different from anyone else.
“For me to travel on public transport, I thought was OK.
“But I’ll make sure I won’t in future. It’s as simple as that. Because it was shown on Sunday what happens when I do.
“That’s the world we live in and also I think, magnifies that if you’re in a position of responsibility you’ve got to be careful what you say. Because if you talk about hate and you talk about rubbing peoples’ nose in the dirt, and all those sorts of things, it incites certain behaviours. “And are they the sorts of behaviours that we want to see?” Jones’ outburst came hot on the heels of Six Nations chiefs handing out a warning to both Scotland and England over Saturday’s pre-match tunnel bust-up involving Owen Farrell and Ryan Wilson (below). Tournament bosses have written to both to remind them and their players of “their obligations to uphold the reputation of the tournament at all times”. Jones confirmed that he had “definitely spoken” to Farrell, who appeared to initiate the scuffle. “There was some evidence of pushing and shoving in the tunnel,” added the Six Nations statement. “But no clear evidence of violent conduct or similar against any individual player.”