It was a heavyweight contest worthy of Billy Vunipola and Donnacha Ryan.
Eddie Jones is being praised for instilling a new no-nonsense attitude in the England team and he continued to carry that into his briefings with the media last night.
His post-match battle with SportsJOE became a major talking point from his post-match press conference, when our Pat McCarry pressed Jones for an opinion of the incident which saw Conor Murray require stitches to the head following a stray boot from England full-back Mike Brown.
We have the audio for you, so you can listen in as Jones defiantly refuses to discuss if Brown’s hack should have been considered reckless play.
Here is the full text of the exchange:
SportsJOE: Eddie, you said James Haskell’s yellow card [for a late hit on Murray] was 50/50. Do you think Mike Brown was lucky to stay on?
Jones: Look, the referee adjudicated on it mate. He said it was fair. If the ball is on the ground you’re allowed to kick it, aren’t you?
SportsJOE: Do you not think it was a bit reckless?
Jones: Was the ball on the ground?
SportsJOE: The ball was about a foot away from where Conor’s head was.
Jones: Was the ball on the ground?
SportsJOE: No.
Jones: Where was it? Had he been tackled?
SportsJOE: Yes.
Jones: Then he can play the ball mate.
SportsJOE: And you don’t think Brown was in any way reckless?
Jones: Are you allowed to play the ball? You tell me what the laws are.
SportsJOE: He took around three or four swings around Conor’s head.
Jones: Are you allowed play the ball if it is on the ground?
SportsJOE: I believe it was reckless. I’m just wondering if you thought it was reckless.
Jones: Well the referee didn’t think it was reckless.
Other reporter: So you are not going to give an opinion then?
Jones: Why should I?
Other reporter: That is generally what a press conference is about. We ask you for your opinion.
Jones: You can give your opinion mate. The referee adjudicated on it. If I give my opinion on the referee then the headline is ‘JONES COMPLAINS ABOUT REFEREE’ so I’m not going to give an opinion mate.
