The Times rugby journalist and all round wind up merchant, Stephen Jones, has aimed a vicious attack on Twitter at under-fire South African DOR Rassie Erasmus.
The ongoing controversy, which began after Erasmus' series of tweets following South Africa's November losses to Ireland and France, hit the headlines once again yesterday after an interview with Wayne Barnes.
Barnes, the referee in the France match, detailed the horrendous abuse aimed at himself and his family following the match and Erasmus' tweets.
This has lead to many, including Jones, calling out Rassie Erasmus for helping to cultivate an environment where people feel it is acceptable to launch such abuse.
"attention Rassie Erasmus," wrote Stephen Jones. "You are directly responsible for the horrible abuse suffered by Polly Barnes revealed by Wayne, this week. Your failure to take defeat on the chin and paranoid response to blame the referee should terminate your involvement in pro rugby for good.
"and @sarugby are you ever going to make any form of announcement casigating Erasmus and banishing him. Or maybe to disassociate yourself entirely from the moron SA supporters who abused his family? Never too late."
Stephen Jones Launches Attack On Rassie Erasmus
attention Rassie Erasmus. You are directly responsible for the horrible abuse suffered by Polly Barnes revealed by Wayne, this week. Your failure to take defeat on the chin and paranoid response to blame the referee should terminate your involvement in pro rugby for good.
— Stephen Jones (@stephenjones9) December 14, 2022
and @sarugby are you ever going to make any form of announcement casigating Erasmus and banishing him. Or maybe to disassociate yourself entirely from the moron SA supporters who abused his family? Never too late
— Stephen Jones (@stephenjones9) December 14, 2022
READ HERE: A Bitter Rassie Erasmus Questions Referee In Twitter Video After Ireland Loss
It was on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast where Wayne Barnes spoke about the abuse, and whether Rassie Erasmus was to blame for any of it.
"On the Saturday night, there started to be some direct abuse at Polly. Then, the following two or three days, there was direct abuse to Polly, threats of sexual violence and threats against the kids.
“I don’t know the answer to that. What I would say is that if people see people in positions who are meant to uphold the values of our game openly criticising referees then it allows others to say, ‘People in positions of power can criticise, why can’t I?’”
SEE ALSO: Wayne Barnes Reveals Disturbing Abuse His Family Received After Rassie Tweets
