James Haskell has launched a fiery defence of the England squad after back-to-back Six Nations defeats left their title hopes in tatters.
Losses to Scotland and Ireland have sparked heavy criticism, with fans venting their frustration online as England’s much-hyped campaign unravelled.
But Haskell insists the narrative around desire and commitment is wide of the mark.
“After the game, people question your desire [as if] you don’t care. I’ve said this a million times, those players out on that field care more than any fan will care. They just might not show it as you would want them to show it, you know, fighting each other, bollocking each other. Ellis Genge, coming out, apologising. It’s great politics,” the former England loose forward said on the The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast.
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When asked about the historical frustration of England supporters, Haskell did not hold back.
“If you want, get fans on the show, because they can tell you all about it. I’ve had 20 years of being a professional athlete, as has Mike [Tindall, also on the podcast]. We’re too familiar with the ups and downs, the rigours of professional sport to get involved in that nonsense. The hyperbole, the history, what happened in the past, all that sh*t, that is the luxury of the fan.
“That is not the reality of a professional athlete because we just don’t think like that. We don’t harbour those things. We never put the shirt on and go, ‘I’ve f**ked up two or three times before, hope we don’t do it this time.’
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“I never once took the field thinking about entertaining the fans. I thought about playing well for my teammates and win the f-ing game. If you do do that, you’ll perform. I never once apologised after a game. ‘I’m so sorry for the bad performance’ – f-off. We know it was a bad performance.
“We’re the ones that have to live with that. I spoke to one of the boys [an England player, post-Ireland]. He’s been told to hang up his boots. Called a sh*thouse. Someone told him [online] to go hang himself. All this stuff. It’s what the fans write. Well, it is just utter bollocks.”
Photo: Peter Cziborra/Reuters
