'Disgusting': Ellis Genge hits back over 'gouge' allegation
Leicester skipper Ellis Genge has hit out at claims that he tried to gouge Wasps’ Francois Hougaard during last Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Coventry. The loosehead was yellow-carded shortly before half-time and the incident became subject to much debate, generating fears that a citing and subsequent suspension could threaten the player’s availability for the start of the upcoming Six Nations with England.
No disciplinary action has materialised, leaving Genge free to continue captaining Leicester in the run-up to England’s February 5 trip to Scotland. He admitted on Tuesday, 48 hours after his sin-binning, that he had apologised to Leicester boss Steve Borthwick and his teammates but he insisted he never feared getting cited and he went on to hit out at the online furore over his actions.
For whatever reason, the behaviour of Genge appears to attract regular criticism. However, appearing at the virtually held Leicester media briefing ahead of next Saturday’s Champions Cup trip to Connacht, the soon-to-be 27-year-old prop defiantly defended himself and claimed his bad-boy reputation was unwarranted.
“Look, for some reason, I have got this weird perception that I have got bad discipline and stuff, I get peppered online but it goes in one ear and you the other, so yeah I feel like I probably let myself down (with the yellow card).
“I am usually the one getting the reaction as opposed to giving the reaction so it was a learning for me being on the other side of the coin where I have lost my head in a split second.
"Other players have seen red for making contact with the eye area without having any intent to gouge and for pulling hair – indeed Chris Ashton has managed both" ??
Former ref Paul Smith ?? casts an eye over this weekend's five big officiating callshttps://t.co/0neLXE3svy— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 10, 2022
“I have seen a lot of people saying that I tried to gouge him, that is absolutely ridiculous. I would never even dream of something like that, that is disgusting. But yeah, I lost my head, pushed him in the face a little bit. I’ll learn from it and have said so to the boys and I said sorry to Steve. Of course, I was disappointed,” he said, adding: “I didn’t think I would be cited, no.”
Genge’s sin-binning was one of two yellow cards suffered by Leicester in a match that heralded the first defeat in 16 matches this season for the Tigers. “Of course, it potentially cost us the game being 14 men down for that amount of time. I think mine’s an isolated incident of me losing my head for a split second off the back of someone doing something to me whereas Tommy’s [Reffell] was working his bollocks off to get back and make a try-saving tackle so there’s a big difference between the two.
“I have apologised to the boys for letting them down… It’s something I can’t promise I won’t do again but it’s one of those, you lose your head in the heat of the moment. I haven’t got a bad discipline record. I have never been red-carded in a professional game and I have got about four yellows in my professional career.
“I love it,” added Genge when asked about how proud he was to be the Leicester captain this season. “Imagine being at war and all your troops are ready to die because that is what our pack is about, being at the front of that leading them in. I love it. I don’t always get it right and the boys know that, Steve knows that and everyone else… but it’s just so easy to lead boys who are that willing.”
Leicester boss Borthwick initially worked as an England assistant with Genge before taking over at the Premiership club in July 2020 and he has nothing but the utmost respect for the development of a player who last month confirmed he had signed for his hometown Bristol for next season.
“He is a very powerful leader. The first thing he does is he sets an example, he trains so hard during the week in the gym, in the scrum sessions, whatever skill sessions and secondly is how brilliant he is at to be able to connect people.
“Whether you are an 18-year-old coming out of the academy to someone with 100-plus caps he can connect to everybody and chat and bring everybody around the table together, and then thirdly he is playing really well. So you have got someone who works hard, is brilliant with people and then is playing really well, he is an incredibly powerful leader.
“I know the matter you refer to on Sunday [the yellow card] and that has been dealt with but from my point of view, he is terrific. He speaks calmly when asked a question, he is able to give clear instructions on what needs to be done. He has grown over the years I have known him to be a top-class international Test player now.”
Comments on RugbyPass
$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to comments