The ridiculous rumoured ban against a fan for calling Eddie Jones a traitor

[Slim 293]

I can't be the only one out there that finds it a complete affront to Australian values that the bloke who called Eddie Jones a traitor is speculated to be banned from Wallabies games for five years as reported this afternoon by The Australian. Outrageous, and a disgrace if it goes ahead.

On the actual incident itself, I see far, far more problems with Eddie Jones' conduct than the fans. Eddie says "come over here and say it", in an absolutely hostile voice, in contrast to the fan. Eddie's comments could easily be interpreted as egging the man on to fight him. The fan doesn't swear, and backs away from the situation, calming things down as Eddie goes completely troppo. Yet he faces a ban? What for? I cannot agree that the expression of an opinion constitutes abuse at a football game.

It may upset the cabal of fawning sycophants and good old boys that have nothing but praise for Jones, but for me, I firmly agree with the fan.

The fact is that the RFU, Eddie Jones' employer, has absolutely caused enormous problems for Australian Rugby. They have blocked reforms to the game that would make it more appealing at every step of the way. They have blocked Southern teams getting a fair share of revenue when they tour there. They have a gerrymander on voting, stacking committees and also a gerrymander on the actual votes at the highest level, where all the home nations get two votes each.

At the organisational level we are so anti their influence on the game that we publicly campaigned for Agustin Pichot to topple Bill Beaumont (RFU, and current World Rugby Chairman). It's a damn shame we didn't roll him. Even a casual fan would easily know that Australian Rugby is very, very firmly against the governing actions that have come from the North and in particular the RFU.

This organisation, which is basically the platinum sponsor of driving the game into the dirt here, is Eddie Jones' employer. A question every Australian rugby fan should ask themselves is, why are you employed by the organisation that's crushing the future of this great game here?

Also, aside from the fact the fan was dead right, can we also cover the fact that professional criticism of Jones is not actually abuse. There is a clear line between abusing someone (typically swearing, yelling, going nuts at someone) and criticism. I think Jones' association with the RFU warrants very strong criticism, and think the fan was perfectly justified. Perhaps there are too many executives at Rugby AU on the Randwick BBQ circuit?

I just have one question...

Does reading the Australian usually provoke such a hysterical overreaction? Or is it all the Murdoch press?

 

[Ignoto]

As Kob mentioned in another thread, there has to be more to what got said as, being called a "traitor" in a vacuum shouldn't normally result in Eddie flipping out.

Either more chat was thrown prior to this video or Eddie is being a bit precious.

Hell two weeks ago he said this;

“You have got 48,000 people all full of drink and all they want to see is their team win,” he said. “When you turn them away, it is a great experience. A great feeling. I was coming out from the coaches’ box and they all have their scarves on. When did Australians start wearing scarves? It is all the rage isn’t it? They are not so smart now. Before the game they are coming up saying to me: ‘You are going to get belted tonight.’ Now they are a little bit more quiet. So that’s good. I enjoy that.”

Something something glass houses something throw rocks is all that comes to mind in this situation.

 

[Drew]

The bloke might have also jeopardized his SCG membership (or whoever’s he was there on). Pretty stupid with the ground opening next door very soon. Sure Eddie acted like a deranged hobo to not very much, but what a turd the so called heckler is.

 

[LeCheese]

As Kob mentioned in another thread, there has to be more to what got said as, being called a "traitor" in a vacuum shouldn't normally result in Eddie flipping out.

Either more chat was thrown prior to this video or Eddie is being a bit precious.

Considering there's footage of two separate instances of Eddie being called a traitor and arking up (on the field, and walking down through the stands), there's no doubt a lot more - not necessarily from the same person/people - that we haven't seen

 

[Braveheart81]

Highly likely he wins his unfair dismissal claim if he gets sacked. Will he get sacked? Who knows? A reasonable chance he'll be managed out and whether he wants to bring a constructive dismissal claim is another story. That's not really relevant to Rugby Australia. For Nine, now that it has become an issue (and seemingly they've helped made it an issue through comments by Ben Fordham etc.) they are probably quite happy to pay some money to get rid of the perceived problem. The guy will get another job, lives will move on.

Rugby Australia should ban him. Five years sounds like a long time but realistically this guy brought it on himself. He acted like a grub and was involved in publishing an embarrassing moment for Rugby Australia and Eddie Jones. To not ban him is condoning the behaviour as being acceptable which it isn't.

 

[Pfitzy]

^^^ This guy. This is the guy.

Look at it this way: "Hey is the video running? I'm going to make an absolute arse of myself on social media by calling Eddie a traitor, yeah?"

5 years sounds fair.

This particular room in the Outrage Palace sounds like it is right next to the one handling the Israel Folau incident - "hE DIdDEn do nufFIn' wr0ng!"

People wonder why the game is in this state, when there is a cadre of peanuts just shouting their bile from the sideline, instead of actually getting behind the game.

So many casual fans out there, mystified that we're at this point, when they've done precisely zero to ask "how can I help?"

And, let's face it: no such thing as bad publicity, particularly when the guy FILMS HIMSELF DOING STUPID THING

Make him qualify as an AR, and run the line at his local Subbies club every week. Taste your own medicine, champ.

 

[cyclopath]

^^^ This guy. This is the guy.

Look at it this way: "Hey is the video running? I'm going to make an absolute arse of myself on social media by calling Eddie a traitor, yeah?"

5 years sounds fair.

This particular room in the Outrage Palace sounds like it is right next to the one handling the Israel Folau incident - "hE DIdDEn do nufFIn' wr0ng!"

People wonder why the game is in this state, when there is a cadre of peanuts just shouting their bile from the sideline, instead of actually getting behind the game.

So many casual fans out there, mystified that we're at this point, when they've done precisely zero to ask "how can I help?"

And, let's face it: no such thing as bad publicity, particularly when the guy FILMS HIMSELF DOING STUPID THING

Make him qualify as an AR, and run the line at his local Subbies club every week. Taste your own medicine, champ.

I liked this mainly for the "champ".

 

[Pfitzy]

I liked this mainly for the "champ".

I "champ" like a champion

 

[Pfitzy]

I'm also still searching for a gif of Kyrgios saying "you do you, champ". @Dismal Pillock ?

 

[Drew]

Love the “piddler on the roof” headline

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

The Grade Cricketer podcast is peak champing. Comedy gold.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

I'm also still searching for a gif of Kyrgios saying "you do you, champ".

Similar sentiment here:

$17,000 fine.

As a side note, I wonder if pornhub sponsor pro athletes?

They'd pay that fine in a red hot second.

 

[Tomikin]

I "champ" like a champion

Don't call me Champ..buddy

 

[spikhaza]

The disdain for fans being a bit passionate and rowdy is exactly why this game struggles to rate in mainstream Australia

Important to remember most Australians don't actually think life is a Surry Hills People and Culture Department, as much as people here repeat their talking points and worldview

 

[Pfitzy]

The disdain for fans being a bit passionate and rowdy is exactly why this game struggles to rate in mainstream Australia

Important to remember most Australians don't actually think life is a Surry Hills People and Culture Department, as much as people here repeat their talking points and worldview

And I am so far from whatever it is you're trying to get at, you'd struggle to believe it.

But there is "passion" and then there is "being a pillock" and this guy falls firmly in the latter.

Or, y'know, we could go full league and have guys punching on in the stands

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

People and Culture Department

Day ruining term

Rae Rae

 

[Braveheart81]

The disdain for fans being a bit passionate and rowdy is exactly why this game struggles to rate in mainstream Australia

Important to remember most Australians don't actually think life is a Surry Hills People and Culture Department, as much as people here repeat their talking points and worldview

The disdain is predominantly based around the fact it was filmed and distributed by this guy and/or his mate and made the incident an issue. If there was no video uploaded it's unlikely anything would have come of it.

This guy very much seems to fit into the stereotypes you are so critical of.

 

[Slim 293]

The disdain for fans being a bit passionate and rowdy is exactly why this game struggles to rate in mainstream Australia

Important to remember most Australians don't actually think life is a Surry Hills People and Culture Department, as much as people here repeat their talking points and worldview

Ah, the quiet Australians?

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Surry Hills People and Culture Department

Becoming curious what the hell this is.

Prolly these fellas amirite;

 

[Marce]

They are so few rugby supporters in Australia that you can't ban any of them lol

Give the guy a jersey and a scarf for choosing to go to a rugby game despite all the pornographic advertisement of NRL and AFL everywhere. The lad is a hero!