WATCH: ‘You don’t have to be a smart a*se ‘ - Australia coach berates journalist after South Africa thrashing

RUGBY WATCH: ‘You don’t have to be a smart a*se ‘ - Australia coach berates journalist after South Africa thrashing

Joel Omotto 15:34 - 09.07.2023

The Australia coach was not impressed by the reporter who questioned his side’s heavy defeat to a second-string South African team.

Australia rugby 15's head coach Eddie Jones tore into a journalist during the post-match press conference after his side’s crushing 43-12 defeat to South Africa.

The Springboks handed Jones his first defeat in his second stint as Wallabies head coach, with Kurt-Lee Arendse scoring a hat-trick at Loftus Versfeld. Pieter-Steph du Toit grabbed another try while South Africa were awarded two penalty tries.

In the build-up to the match, much was made of the Springboks’ decision to split their squad and send players over to New Zealand for the round two clash against the All Blacks.

Before arriving in South Africa, Jones commented on the Boks resting several stars, saying: “What I am hoping for is their best team. I do not want to take down a half-baked Springboks side.”

Fronting the media after the defeat to South Africa, Jones made no excuses for the defeat but took exception to a question from a local journalist.

Jones was asked: “Eddie, you expressed your disappointment in the week that you weren’t playing the first-choice Springboks side. Is that a bit of a relief now?”

“South Africans are good at winning. You don’t have to be a smart arse mate,” Jones replied.

“We were well and truly beaten today by a Springboks side that old mate is calling the B-team, right? I never knew there was a Springboks side that was called the B-team.”

After the press conference, Jones approached the reporter who had asked the questions and berated him.

“You don’t have to be a smart arse, mate. You should have more respect, mate. I never said that, mate.

“I said we always want to play the best. Show some respect,” he added before storming out.

The Wallabies will travel back to Sydney on Sunday and turn their attention to their clash with Argentina at CommBank Stadium next Saturday.