David Flatman blasts Bulls fans for Owen Farrell treatment
The way Owen Farrell was treated during the game against the Bulls has raised the ire of at least one former England international.
Former England prop David Flatman, who is currently a commentator, was vehemently critical of the way Owen Farrell was treated during the game against the Bulls.
In their Champions Cup opener in Pretoria, Saracens faced the South African team, with the Red Rose skipper in action.
LOFTUS BOO BOYS BLASTED FOR OWEN FARRELL’S TREATMENT
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Despite Farrell’s problems over the past year, the Loftus did not take to him and heckled him throughout the match.
The 32-year-old recently said that he will be retiring from international rugby in order to safeguard the mental health of himself and his family.
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This happened after he was regularly the focus of trolls on social media and was jeered during the Rugby World Cup, even by England fans.
After the game, Bulls head coach Jake White quickly expressed regret for the crowd behaviour, and Flatman concurred that it was wrong.
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“Just to separate it, I don’t mind a little bit of booing of opposition players when their names are announced and a bit of sporting hostility – a bit of pretend sporting hatred.
“I don’t mind that,” he said on ITV Sport.
“But you’ve all got phones, you all read the internet, you all know that he’s struggling and he’s stepped back.
“If there’s a time to have a day off, that’s your time to have a day off.”
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A GREAT BLOKE WHO DOESN’T DESERVE IT
Flatman believes that the jeering is not only divorced from rugby culture but also the reality of the game and how it is played.
“All the people that are sending him abuse on social media and are booing him, they will have players that they idolise that they think are great and whose opinions they think are valid,” he added.
“You ask those players who the best players are they play against, play with, the players they would most quite like to have in their team. Owen Farrell will be in most of their heroes’ top three, or top five at least, he’s that good.
“The reality is that social media is largely unregulated and there are people receiving a lot of abuse all over the place.
“There’s a lot of great stuff on there, it’s very handy for some things, but unfortunately that is set to continue.
“To be honest, I just hope he’s alright because he’s a great bloke.”
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