Rassie latest: World Rugby silent as Eddie Jones moans

Eddie Jones’s comments about Rassie Erasmus are as big a joke as his England team was in the 2019 World Cup final, writes Mark Keohane. 

Jones called on World Rugby to deal swiftly with Erasmus for his public criticism of Australian referee Nic Berry during the British & Irish Lions series.

Erasmus a day ago also took to his own twitter account taunting Jones with a quip: ‘What if the video was not leaked by Rassie.’

Good man!! Great coach!! 99% correct on everything !! 1% = what if the video was not leaked by Rassie 🤔 https://t.co/C7Mw5VkQIt

— Johan Erasmus (@RassieRugby) September 9, 2021

Jones, who seemed to be on a self-imposed media ban during the Springboks 2-1 series win against the British & Irish Lions, this week resurfaced and immediately made a fool of himself when calling for World Rugby to discipline Erasmus for publicly condemning Australian referee Nic Berry.

This is the same Jones who called New Zealand referee Ben O’Keefe a cheat when saying England always knew they would be playing against 16 after beating Wales. Jones made this comments at a media conference after the match and his criticism of O’Keefe had to do with two England players being carded.

This is the same Jones who had to be disciplined for his failure to show officials any respect.

Jones has never been shy in publicly voicing his views of referees, when he coached the Wallabies and when he coached Japan and now England.

Jones’s England lost a series against Erasmus in South Africa when leading the first Test 24-3 and the second Test 12-0.

His England team also suffered a humiliating 32-12 defeat in the 2019 World Cup final to Erasmus’s Boks, with Erasmus having Jones’s number in the biggest game of their respective national coaching tenures.

Erasmus has been charged with bringing the game into disrepute but no official hearing date has been set as the legal teams of SA Rugby, Erasmus and World Rugby continue their sparring session outside of the ring.

Erasmus did not travel to Australia for the Rugby Championship, with Bok coach Jacques Nienaber, saying Erasmus did not want anything to distract the Boks.

DON’T SHOOT RASSIE THE MESSENGER

RASSIE NEVER SURRENDER SOUTH AFRICA STANDS WITH YOU 

Lekka!! All clear for the "main thing" https://t.co/ztpFF753Te

— Johan Erasmus (@RassieRugby) August 26, 2021

Also on www.keo.co.za

All power to Rassie as he goes viral in damnation of match officials

World Rugby and SA Rugby have gone silent on the Erasmus disciplinary.

If Eddie & @EnglandRugby will never get over 32-12 the @lionsofficial will never get over @mornesteyn & 2009 & 2021 … #Springboks

— Mark 'KEO' Keohane – RUGBY (@mark_keohane) September 6, 2021

This will be hilarious for @RassieRugby & @Springboks & should be embarrassing for @MailSport as they report on Eddie ranting about Rassie after reporting on Eddie getting disciplined for ranting at Ben O'Keefe https://t.co/JCuNf8Uo82 https://t.co/uKF1QMdNMa

— Mark 'KEO' Keohane – RUGBY (@mark_keohane) September 6, 2021

The same Eddie Jones who took aim at Ben O'Keefe, accused the ref of being a cheat & said @EnglandRugby had played 16 men. https://t.co/Nohgf2Fy4Z

— Mark 'KEO' Keohane – RUGBY (@mark_keohane) September 6, 2021