‘Give yourselves uppercuts’: Eddie Jones has strangest meltdown of his career
There is nothing quite like a complete Eddie Jones meltdown in a conference to switch all the attention onto the Wallabies this week.
The Australia head coach was faced by the media at the airport before flying to France and was clearly triggered by some of the questions which he felt were negative. He has never been shy to fire back at journalists, and this conference was no exception.
“I can’t believe the level of negativity here, boys,” he said.
“I know what’s wrong with Australian rugby and part of you blokes are the problem, because you’re so bloody negative about everything. So negative about everything.
“OK, so we’re going off to a World Cup you think we can’t win. You think the selection process is bad because a player’s complained. So I apologise for that. So we’ll go out there and do our best, boys. So if you haven’t got anything positive to say, don’t ask please.
“I know you blokes think we can’t do any good, so don’t ask any questions boys. Just be the pessimists you are, keep Australian rugby where it’s been. Keep it where it’s been. Complain about players that don’t get selected. Keep doing that, because it’s fantastic, because we love it.
“I love this negativity – it’s fantastic. I love it, love it – keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going, keep going.”
Jones was then asked a question by a member of the press, but before the question was finished, the coach interrupted and went up another level in his onslaught. He said: “Nothing, mate. We’re terrible. Just tell us we’re terrible and we will prove you wrong.
“I can feel this negativity – I’ve got to wash myself off because it’s just sticking to me.”
“Thanks for the worst press conference I’ve ever had in world rugby. Well done – the worst I’ve ever seen.”
Jones then stormed out of the conference before telling the journalists to “Go give yourselves uppercuts.”
Take a look:
Hilarious. pic.twitter.com/jLGi5g947n
— Andy Rowe (@AndyRoweOnline) August 17, 2023
