One of rugby's most divisive pundits Stephen Jones reflects on forty years of covering the game for the Sunday Times today.
The Welshman has saw a lot across four decades and during that time has never shyed away from offering up a controversial opinion which gets people talking.
In 2023 Jones opted to chose more French than Irish players in his Six Nations Team of the Tournament despite Ireland winning the Grand Slam.
Mack Hansen, Hugo Keenan, Caolan Doris and Andrew Porter were just some of the Irish players who made the cut, while Tadhg Furlong was included despite only playing in two games.
More recently Jones wrote an article that was deeply "insulting" to the Irish women's rugby team suggesting that their Six Nations clash with England should be called off.
"It's insulting to what we do every day. It's insulting to how we have to mentally and physically turn up every week, how hard we work, what we analyse, how painful it is after matches that you lose when you know that you aren't good enough," Ireland's Dorothy Wall said.
Even less than a month ago Jones was still causing controversy as an article he wrote had to be deleted containing mistruths about Rugby Sevens.
He wrote about the London Sevens tournament, hammering it, despite the fact it hadn't even happened.
We’re blocked.
But someone needs to tell Stephen Jones that the London 7s are next weekend.
“Yesterday at Twickenham, nearly 50,000 were expected for the London leg”
He’s written a whole article about an event that hasn’t even happened yet… pic.twitter.com/mGBCcIEh3d— RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) May 14, 2023
Stephen Jones hammered for 'Dream Team' selection
His latest downright bizzare decision is the 'Dream Team' he has named covering his forty years on the beat.
Only two Irish players make the cut, Tadhg Furlong and Rob Kearney.
There is no place for Brian O'Driscoll, with All Black Frank Bunce selected at 12.
Elsewhere at out-half Argentina's Juan Martin Hernandez is Jones' pick, a decision that would boggle the minds of most rugby fans.
Here is @stephenjones9's dream XV from the last 40 years 🔽
Who would you add? Let Steve know in the replies. . . pic.twitter.com/SYolFAaDQ8— Times Sport (@TimesSport) June 3, 2023
Perhaps unsurprisingly Jones has been hammered on Twitter for his decisions, with people questioning the use of 'Dream Team' and what exactly his interpretation of that phrase is.
This is the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. It must be a troll, this cannot legitimately be the opinion of someone who has watched the game. https://t.co/rq5eCXFqAm
— Sam Bromley-Rice (@SamRicez) June 4, 2023
at least it's just a dream team and not a best of/greatest players.... https://t.co/97l0gG82df
— thedeadballarea (@thedeadballarea) June 4, 2023
Got his fishing rod out here looking for bites and reactions surely 🤣 https://t.co/rC7vYslPNx
— Sixways Social (@SocialSixways) June 4, 2023
Jones also includes five highlights over the past forty years, including this year's Heineken Champions Cup Final between Leinster and La Rochelle.
"The Heineken Champions Cup final in April at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin was pure, epic drama. Leinster came storming out of the blocks with an early 17-point lead, only for the mammoth La Rochelle pack to take over completely, forcing Leicester into desperate defence and winning deservedly. It proved that there are still contrasting ways to win a game of rugby," he writes.
Jones, who still uses a copytaker to get his points across, is going nowhere and will probably have a few more head-scratching takes before the start of the Rugby World Cup in September.
SEE ALSO: Rob Kearney Points Out A Key Selection In The Irish XV For The World Cup Warm Ups
