Andy Farrell: 'It’s obviously disgusting. There’s no need for it'

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has condemned the “disgusting” racist abuse aimed at Edwin Edogbo following his international debut against Italy.

The Irish Rugby Football Union is investigating after Edogbo was targeted on social media after coming on as a replacement in last weekend’s 20-13 Guinness Six Nations victory in Dublin.

Munster lock Edogbo was born and raised in County Cork to Nigerian parents.

Farrell backed the 23-year-old to “crack on and ignore all the BS”.

“First and foremost, it’s all about the player, nothing but about how he is and how it’s affecting him or not,” Farrell told reporters on Thursday after naming his team for Saturday’s match away to England.

“We’ve had the conversation and he’s fine, thankfully. But it’s obviously disgusting. There’s no need for it in society.

“I didn’t read it. I don’t want to read it, I don’t want to give people anything to even think that I’m even commenting on some of the stuff that has been said really because they certainly don’t deserve that.

“But as far as I’m concerned, Edwin’s fine, he’s strong, he’s been brought up in the right way.

“We met his family last week, his mother and his two brothers and his sister. His father couldn’t make it because he works all hours God sends as an A and E (accident and emergency) nurse there down in Cork, which says it all.

“He’s made of the right stuff, and that’s why he’s able to just crack on and ignore all the BS.”

Edogbo impressed off the bench against the Azzurri but has not been included in the matchday 23 for Twickenham.

Joe McCarthy and James Ryan continue as the starting locks and, while there is no recognised second row option on Ireland’s bench, Tadhg Beirne, who starts at blindside flanker, can cover the position.

“We’ve got some good players who are used to pushing in the scrum in the second row,” Farrell said.

“Any type of unit like Edwin is going to be quite dominant in that department. I suppose the occasion, when you’re coming on as a new-ish player in a big game like that at Twickenham, are you going to have it in your legs in the last 10 minutes or not?

“There’s a difference there in that regard, but I suppose Joe McCarthy’s big enough and strong enough. We’ve certainly got a determined pack this week to make sure that that area is attacked from us.”