Shock jock Alan Jones launches a vile unprovoked attack on a young female footy journalist

Alan Jones. Photo / Getty Images.

Former Wallabies coach and 2GB radio host Alan Jones has been told to 'get a life' after he made a vile unprovoked attack on a female rugby journalist.

Jones called out Beth Newman, a reporter for rugby.com.au, in a scathing column for The Australian following the Wallabies' 40-12 loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park last weekend.

The 75-year-old labelled Newman a "hack" working as a "paid mouthpiece for Australian Rugby' in a seething rant also aimed at Australian Rugby CEO Raelene Castle.

"I picked up the rugby programme for the test match last Saturday in New Zealand," he wrote in the column.

"The world of rugby was at the game. And some hack, Beth Newman, is writing on Australian rugby.

"How the hell would her utterly irrelevant musings represent an appropriate evaluation to the world of the state of the Wallabies."

But other journalists jumped to Newman's defence, saying Jones' singling-out of the female reporter was unnecessary.

I feel utter disgust at Alan Jones even speaking Beth Newman's [@bethknewman] name. She is one of Australian Rugby's best journos. There is only one "mouthpiece" in this discussion and it's the bloke who thinks using the N word on radio is proper conduct. For shame. #rugby https://t.co/GHrC23wpth

— Roy Ward (@rpjward) August 31, 2018

Sports writer Roy Ward tweeted: "I feel utter disgust at Alan Jones even speaking Beth Newman's name. There is only one 'mouthpiece' in this discussion and it's the bloke who thinks using the N word on radio is proper conduct."

The tweet alluded to Jones' use of the colloquial phrase "n****r in the woodpile" last week in reference to the Liberal Party leadership spill.

Jones apologised for using the phrase the next day on 2GB radio.

Another sports reporter told Jones to "get a life" for a "completely out of line crack" at Newman.

Others questioned Jones' decision to single out a female reporter in his column.

Sports reporter Christy Doran said: "Sure, attack Rugby Australia and the system. But why bring one of our female colleagues into your weekly column?"

Newman has worked at rugby.com.au since September 2015, having previously worked as as sports reporter at the Brisbane Times.