Boos again on Eddie Jones’s return to Twickenham but this time directed only at Israel Folau. The former Australia fullback’s selection for the World XV raised eyebrows given the controversy his anti-gay social media posts caused in 2019 and he was regularly jeered by the Twickenham crowd. He scored a try, showcasing his unquestionable talent, but suffice to say he was persona non grata in south-west London.
Jones, meanwhile, escaped unscathed on his first trip back to Twickenham. He played down the significance but it was almost six months to the day after his final England match ended in resounding boos and the axe soon followed. He never liked this fixture but after this you sense his opinion has changed. There can be no doubt that he enjoyed his triumphant return. Taking charge of the Barbarians, he flashed up on the big screen just after Seta Tamanivalu’s try had sealed an entertaining victory against Steve Hansen’s World XV. Jones was beaming, grinning from ear to ear, cream secured.
