Boks fans give Eddie a verbal send-off
EDDIE Jones put on a brave face after England crashed to a fourth successive Test defeat, losing 42-39 to an inexperienced South African side at Ellis Park, and then running a gauntlet of abuse from Springbok fans as he walked down the tunnel.
Jones tried to laugh off the abuse as Bok supporters leaned over the railings and verbally insulted the England coach. He paused for about 15 seconds and spoke to them before being shepherded away by players and staff.
“I was just asking them where I could get a good bottle of Pinotage,” Jones explained.
“I’m still waiting for the answer so if anyone can help me out, please do.”
Jones, who was abused by fans at Manchester railway station after losing in Murrayfield during the Six Nations, added: “But I wouldn’t worry too much about that because it was such a great game of rugby. Don’t worry about one little conversation about a bottle of red wine in the tunnel.”
Jones said that after a great start when England led 20-3 indiscipline and 12 penalties again cost his side.
“It was a game we could have won. I’ve never seen a better 20 minutes by a visiting side at Ellis Park. Then our next 60 was a mix of
inconsistency and lack of discipline. We had a penalty count of 17-4 against us (official stats said 12-4) and it’s hard to win any Test match with that. I’m proud of the effort of the boys, but we need to fix our discipline.”
Jones continued: “It’s always my problem to fix – I select the players and we have to change the behaviours of the players. Sometimes that isn’t easy.”
Asked about England conceding 14 tries in two games, counting the match against the Barbarians, he said: “We certainly conceded some easy tries today. We struggled to get our spacing right, and we are working on that.”
Jones said of his 35th minute substitution of lock Nick Isiekwe for Brad Shields: “We needed to change the momentum of the game. It was slipping away. Bringing Shields on in such an open game, having another back rower could help us defensively. It did change it, and we got back in it.
“Our effort and attitude was outstanding. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a visiting team applauded off Ellis Park. We played with some real courage albeit with a lack of discipline.”
Captain Owen Farrell looking ahead to next Saturday’s second Test in Bloemfontein, said: “We must stick together now. This will make us tighter and bring out the best in us.”
No.8 Billy Vunipola, who returned to Test rugby for the first time since March 2017, said: “We got too tight around the ruck. They have dangerous players, especially Willie le Roux who is always roaming on that blindside.”
It was the first time a side had come back from 23-3 down since Wales beat Argentina 36-26 in Buenos Aires in 1999 and Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said: “That start worried me because we had a lot of young players against a very experienced England.
“Everything came together for us, the nerves went and we managed to get into sync and do those things we know we can do well.”
Siya Kolisi, the Springboks first black captain, said: “It was just a beautiful day.”