England rugby head coach Eddie Jones has been criticised for comments regarding US Open champion, Emma Raducanu.
After Saturday's 69-3 thrashing of Tonga at Twickenham, Jones referenced Raducanu in his post-match comments about out-half Marcus Smith.
The Harlequins player scored a try and kicked five conversions in the win over the Pacific Islanders, leading to rave reviews.
“The big thing for good young players is distractions," Jones said afterwards, "The distractions could be the exposure they get in the media, the praise they get, the criticism they get.
"There can be groups of agents who see this guy as the next big thing.
“There’s a reason why the young girl who won the US Open hasn’t done so well afterwards. What have you seen her on – the front page of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar or whatever, wearing Christian Dior clothes.
"All that is a distraction around her.”
Raducanu took time out after her surprising Flushing Meadows win, making an unsuccessful return at the BNP Parisbas Open. However, her run to the quarter-finals at the Transylvania Open has seen the 18-year old crack the WTA top-20.
One of Raducanu's predecessors as UK no.1 - Jo Durie - took exception to Jones' citing of Raducanu.
"Emma isn’t a girl," Durie pointed out, "She is an 18-year-old woman.
"Unfortunately, when you’re this famous, everybody likes to have their opinion about you.
“I don’t know her well myself but she seems to have a good head on her shoulders and she just needs to play for at least a season and get used to life on the tour before anyone expects anything else from her.”
Meanwhile, BBC presenter Gabby Logan called Jones' remarks, "unbelievably unfair and not even remotely comparable.
"Imagine an 18-year-old rugby player winning a World Cup having never played a club game."
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