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'He hasn't killed anyone': Davies on Feyi-Waboso's choice and trolls
Former Wales No10 Jonathan Davies knows all about the “numpties” who make social media criticism an increasingly worrying pressure on top rugby players and officials.
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Davies, who won 37 caps at out-half for his country, also had an outstanding rugby league career but that has not stopped him being mauled by online critics for his commentary as a pundit.
He explained to RugbyPass: “I had a few numpties saying what does he know about rugby league because I live in Wales now. Well, I was player’s player of the year twice, captain of Great Britain, I played out in Australia, I beat New Zealand and Australia and I was the Man of Steel. So no matter where I live, I think I know a little bit about it (league)!”
The ability of keyboard warriors to fire off criticism based purely on an inexplicable desire to verbally wound the target has been brought sharply into focus by the new Whistleblowers film on RugbyPass TV, which focuses on the experiences of referees and television match officials at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
England’s Tom Foley, the TMO in the World Cup final, has walked away from that role after receiving “a torrent of criticism and abuse,” while Wayne Barnes, the referee for the final which saw All Blacks captain Sam Cane sent off, has retired and hit out at social media abuse of officials.
Players are also regular targets of the haters, with former England captain Owen Farrell standing down from international rugby citing social media abuse aimed at him and his family as a contributing factor.
England flanker Tom Curry was also the target of online abuse after approaching referee Ben O’Keeffe to report an alleged racially abusive comment from South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi when the teams clashed at the World Cup.
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Against this backdrop, the build-up to next Saturday’s England versus Wales Guinness Six Nations clash at Twickenham started with English head coach Steve Borthwick saying Exeter wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso would be supported in the face of potential social media attacks.
Born and raised in Cardiff but qualifying for England through a grandmother, Feyi-Waboso, who made his Test debut off the bench last Saturday against Italy, is expected to be named in the match squad to face the Welsh in London.
Borthwick said: “We are really cognisant of that and rightly so given the World Cup experience. There is a heightened awareness now of those external noises and external factors. We will give all the players all the support they need.”
Now a TV television pundit, Davies recently wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Haters will be haters. Don’t let the numpties on social media get you down. Brave and know-it-all all trolls everywhere (sad pathetic people, you know who you are). Tin hat season during Six Nations.”
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Expanding on his views on Tuesday, Davies said: “It is a sad indictment on society that there is a lack of balance or perspective. If Feyi-Waboso chooses England, then he hasn’t killed anyone or abused one of your family. He has made a choice so get on with it. If you are the kind of character that worries (about social media) then you have to get off it.
“I got abused when I went north (to rugby league) but playing out-half for Wales you cop it anyway. Win and you are brilliant, lose and you’re the worst.
“After the weekend, Scottish fans got into me saying, I wasn’t impartial. I remember playing in a rugby league match and when I ran out and a bloke in the crowd shouted: ‘Davies, you’re a wanker.’ Then someone next to him shouted, ‘Pity his father wasn’t.’ I laughed.
“Social media is great but you need a hard skin and have to ignore the idiots. When I was playing I had Barry John and Phil Bennett commentating and if I didn’t play as well as they expected they gave their views and I respected it.
“It comes with the territory but now with Twitter, you don’t know who these people are. They are faceless trolls and unfortunately, it’s a sign of our times. Either you come off social media or have a hard skin.
“If I was playing now then I would just accept it for what it is and I would only listen to people who I respected, journalists, ex-players and broadcasters. The problem now is that everyone thinks they know everything.”
All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan recently added his voice to those calling for strong action, telling Newstalk ZB: “What has been happening with some of the messaging and threats that have been sent to referees (and) their families is disgusting.
“It’s something that needs to be cracked down on at the highest level. The sooner something is done about it at the highest level, whether or not that is through the law and criminal offences or World Rugby, it has to stop because it’s not good enough.”
World Rugby partnered with an online monitoring agency for the recent World Cup and flagged more than 1,600 abusive social media accounts which resulted in 90 per cent of the most serious content being removed.
Signify Group monitored 900 social media accounts for World Rugby, including those belonging to all match officials with public-facing social accounts (including their families) and World Rugby’s official channels during the 2023 tournament. It revealed the teams most targeted were England followed by Springboks, France and New Zealand.
As a result, legal action is being taken with one person being charged in Australia and other prosecutions pending in South Africa, France, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Comments on RugbyPass
‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
7 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to comments