Mtawarira posts new Genge message 18 months after critical tweet
Former Springboks prop Tendai Mtawarira has welcomed Ellis Genge to the Roc Nation fold 18 months after he called the England front-rower out on Twitter for alleged foul play in a Guinness Six Nations match versus Ireland.
The March 2021 defeat for Eddie Jones’ team in Dublin was a depressing low for the English that was added to by the angry reaction online towards Genge after he seemed to use excessive force against the head of Johnny Sexton while on the ground under the posts at the Aviva Stadium.
Genge was ultimately exonerated in the eyes of the rugby judiciary as he wasn’t cited for the incident, but there was still much criticism online for his actions and it included a damning message from Mtawarira.
“This Ellis Genge dude needs to be dealt with properly,” he wrote in a post that retweeted the video footage of the damage inflicted on the prone Sexton, who was pinned to the ground and unable to defend himself.
The tweet by Mtawarira generated plenty of reaction but the incident has now ironically come back on him 18 months down the line as the former Springboks prop was used by Roc Nation to present the video welcoming Genge as their latest new rugby client.
England international. Bristol’s finest. The baby rhino. Welcome to the family @EllisGenge ? pic.twitter.com/k7yqtICEJc
— Roc Nation Sports International (@RocNationSI) September 29, 2022
The 70-second clip announcing the agency’s signing of Genge didn’t duck the past history between Mtawarira and the England player as it showed during the introduction segment the tweet from March 2021. “Hey, it’s the Beast here. I would like to introduce the newest member of the Roc Nation family. Ellis? Ellis Genge? Is that correct? I’m only kidding, brother. It’s all good, it’s all love. Ellis Genge, welcome to the Roc Nation family.”
Having earned the last of his 117 Springboks caps when beating England at the 2019 World Cup final in Yokohama, the now-retired 37-year-old Mtawarira is currently a businessman represented by Roc Nation who is said to be passionate about motivational speaking and outreach work. He was named in the Forbes Africa 2021 list of 100 most influential Africans.
Genge, meanwhile, has seen his profile grow immensely in the last year, thriving in his role as England vice-captain and skippering Leicester to Gallagher Premiership glory at Twickenham in June before joining Bristol, the 27-year-old’s hometown club where has made a massive try-scoring impact in recent home matches at Ashton Gate.
This Ellis Genge dude needs to be dealt with ??properly.. https://t.co/1JC9KelO7N
— Tendai Mtawarira (@Beast_TM) March 22, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Simple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain and that’s a big carrot to offer.
8 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
1 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
8 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
8 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
8 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
8 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
8 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
8 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
8 Go to commentsThose ears must give him great field awareness
1 Go to commentsFrench international centre Maelle Fillopon is death, too.
1 Go to commentsIf your act of foul play leaves someone with a broken leg it's pretty trashy to them say that it wasn't really red card bad. Suspensions for injuring a player through foul play should be as long they're out injured plus a penalty on top of that.
3 Go to comments