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Furious Jake White unleashes scathing rebuke on Bulls fans amidst Owen Farrell controversy
Saracens’ Director of Rugby Mark McCall declined to get dragged into the subject, but his Bulls counterpart Jake White did not hold back in his condemnation of the Loftus Versfeld ‘boo boys’.
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The Bulls overpowered three-time champions Saracens 27-16 in their opening Champions Cup outing in Pretoria on Saturday – with flyhalf Johan Goosen contributing 12 points with the boot.
He converted the tries of centre David Kriel, lock Janko Swanepoel and wing Canan Moodie, also slotting two penalties.
In response, Sarries captain Owen Farrell kicked two penalties, while fullback Alex Goode and second row Maro Itoje scored tries.
Things only got harder for the travelling side – No.8 Billy Vunipola was red-carded for a vicious shoulder charge at a ruck, while fullback Alex Goode (late tackle) and lock Maro Itoje (slapping the ball down) were issued with yellow cards.
The Bulls will now face Lyon away from home in their second match, with Saracens hosting Connacht.
In his post-match reaction, White made a point of calling out the ugly nature of some of the Loftus fans.
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Match Summary 
2
Penalty Goals
2
3
Tries
2
3
Conversions
0
0
Drop Goals
0
106
Carries
108
7
Line Breaks
3
14
Turnovers Lost
7
2
Turnovers Won
8
Farrell has been frequently booed by opposition fans in recent weeks, especially during the World Cup with England, and announced a break from the international game for his mental well-being which will rule him out of the Six Nations.
This was his first game since that announcement and the South African fans booed Farrell after a missed drop-goal and when lining up a conversion towards the end of the game.
“I have nothing to say about that,” McCall responded to a question about the fans.
White, after being asked about the game and his team’s impressive win, made a point of taking a swipe at the fans.
“I am apologising for all the booing of Owen Farrell,” an indignant White said. “It is not who we [the Bulls] are,” he added.
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He suggested people have ‘jumped on the Owen Farrell hate bandwagon’ and there is no reason for the animosity towards the Saracens captain.
“I don’t understand all the negativity,” White said, adding: “He is an unbelievable player.
“What he has achieved in England is phenomenal.
“I am disappointed [about the booing]. I wanted the people to enjoy the fact that they get to see him play.
“You equate that to watching Tiger Woods play golf and [Michael] Jordan playing basketball. I must apologise, because it [booing] is not really who we are.
“We will address that,” he said of the boo boys.
He said he was happy with the win against such a powerful team as Saracens.
McCall admitted his side had been up against it at altitude in Pretoria, with the red and yellow cards costing them.
“When you are losing collisions and under pressure then sometimes that lack of discipline happens,” the Sarries boss said.
“I thought Alex Goode was unlucky to be honest, I didn’t agree with that decision.
“Billy was trying to be urgent and clear out from a line-out and got it wrong. These things happen sometimes.
“I’m pleased we fought back hard in the second half but disappointed with the first half.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments