Welsh should stop knocking Eddie, he went extra mile for Gethin

SOME delicate souls took umbrage at Eddie Jones for trotting out such Welsh stereotypes as goats and daffodils.

They climbed on their high horses and called for England’s favourite Aussie to get his come-uppance. What, after all, had he ever done for Wales?

Quite a lot, actually. Less than 48 hours before the match, he drove from England’s base in Surrey to Cardiff and back again, a round trip of almost 300 miles, not in an attempt to spy the lie of the land but in tribute to a Welsh player.

Jones had gone to that inordinate length of trouble to appear at a black-tie charity dinner at Cardiff Arms Park in aid of the venerable Welsh Lion, Gethin Jenkins. Eddie’s presence allowed organisers to charge £750 for a table of ten.

Next time someone takes offence at Jones’ talking about goats or daffodils, he or she might think about a question: Would the head coach of Wales have gone nearly 300 miles in the opposite direction two days before playing England to support an English player’s charity event?