James Haskell has delivered a brutal and unapologetic defence of the England squad after their Six Nations title hopes were left in tatters following consecutive defeats.
Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Back-to-back losses to Scotland and Ireland have triggered fierce criticism from supporters, with frustration spilling across social media as England’s much-hyped campaign unravelled in a matter of weeks.
But the former England flanker has hit back hard at claims the current crop lack desire.
csSpeaking on
The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, Haskell dismissed suggestions that players are not hurting as much as fans.
“After the game, people question your desire, like you don’t care,” Haskell said.
“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 how people want. Fighting each other, bollocking each other. Ellis Genge coming out and apologising — great politics. But don’t question desire.”
‘That’s the luxury of the fan’
England supporters have long memories, and talk of past failures resurfaced quickly after the defeats. But Haskell insists players do not carry that historical baggage when they pull on the shirt.
“If you want, get fans on the show, because they can tell you all about it,” he said.
“I’ve had 20 years as a professional athlete, as has Mike Tindall. 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 — that’s the luxury of the fan.
That’s not the reality of a professional athlete.”
Haskell made it clear that players do not step onto the pitch fearing past mistakes.
“You never put the shirt on thinking, ‘We’ve messed this up before, hope we don’t do it again.’ You don’t think like that.”
‘We know when we’ve been bad’
The 2016 Grand Slam winner also rejected the idea that players owe public apologies after poor performances.
“I never once ran out worrying about entertaining the fans. I thought about playing well for my teammates and winning the game. If you do that, you’ll perform.
I never apologised after a game. ‘Sorry for the bad performance.’ We know it was bad.
We’re the ones who have to live with it.”
But it was the online abuse aimed at current players that drew his strongest reaction.
Haskell revealed he had spoken to one England player after the Ireland defeat who had been told to “hang up his boots”, labelled a “sh*thouse”, and even urged to “go hang himself” on social media.
“All this stuff — it’s what fans write,” Haskell said.
“It’s just utter bollocks.”
With England’s title challenge hanging by a thread, Haskell’s message is clear: criticise performances if you must — but never question the commitment of the men in the shirt.
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