Australian rugby coach Eddie Jones has branded a reporter a 'smart arse' after a heated exchange in a press conference.
The 63-year-old is back coaching the Wallabies for his second stint in charge but suffered a heavy 43-12 defeat to South Africa that had decided to rest some key stars. Jones and his men were unable to break a 60-year hoodoo at Pretoria, where an Australian side has never won and faced some heavy criticism for the way they played in their Rugby Championship opener, marking the worst loss to the Springboks since 2008.
And Jones, who is trying to prepare his side for a better outing in their next Test is against Argentina on Saturday in Sydney, got embroiled in a war of words with a journalist who asked: “Eddie, you expressed your disappointment in the week that you weren’t playing the first-choice Springboks side. Is that a bit of relief now?”
The question threw Jones in to defence mode as he responded: "South Africans are good at winning. You don't have to be a smartarse mate.
"We were well and truly beaten today by a Springboks side that our mate (reporter) is calling the B team, right? I never knew there was a Springboks side that was called the B team. We weren't good enough, so we're going to front up next week. That's the only thing."
But the exchange didn't end there as the coach approached the reporter upon leaving the press room and requested some 'respect' before being ushered out of the door.
Pointing at the journalist in question, he added: "You don't have to be a smart arse. You should have more respect. I never said that mate, I said we always want to play the best. You don't have to be so smart about it."
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