'Personal attacks on teams and individuals are divisive and unhelpful... it shouldn't be accepted'
Lewis Moody is hoping for a big improvement in Leicester’s Gallagher Premiership form between now and the end of the season – and an end to the personalised abuse that is blighting the sport and society in general.
So serious has the issue become in recent times that Tigers even sought police advice last April on how best to handle the matter.
Having finished eleventh place last term, one spot above relegated Newcastle, Leicester’s on-field fortunes haven’t much improved this season.
Halfway through their 22-match schedule, they again occupy the eleventh spot having won just three of eleven matches and would be favourites for the drop but for Saracens’ automatic relegation for salary cap breaches.
Moody, the 2003 World Cup winner who spent a dozen season at Welford Road, has no problem with performances being questioned in a critically constructive manner.
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The Rugby Pod rounds up all last weekend’s Guinness Six Nations and Gallagher Premiership action
They have to questioned in instances such as Leicester going to Sale last weekend and abjectly losing 36-3. However, he takes issue when the criticism turns to personalised abuse and crosses the line.
“Not to diminish the importance that games have for people but like any environment, all players and all coaches are trying to play to the best of their ability,” he told RugbyPass.
“No team or player ever takes the field trying to have a bad game or wanting to underperform or make a mistake. No coach ever prepares a team poorly because he is preparing a team to be successful at the weekend to the best of his ability.
Fascinating listening to @GMB talking about pressure of social media and how to better monitor trolling and hold individuals to account. Wonder if they will reflect also on how they look at the toxic behaviours and language they themselves and other media outlets have condoned?
— Lewis Moody (@LewisMoody7) February 17, 2020
“People have the right to be upset and disappointed in performances, of course, but it’s the language and the rhetoric and the behaviours that are used and condoned that have become an acceptable part of everyday practice, whether it is personal accounts or social media or the media – whatever platform it is happening on, it’s unacceptable.
“You wouldn’t say these things to people’s faces. Invariably people often wouldn’t say the comments they put on social media or in the media to someone’s face because there is an outcome, someone is going to be upset, distraught. There might be an angry reaction.
“It’s not to say that people can’t be disappointed. It’s when there are personal attacks on teams and individuals and the language and the rhetoric that is used is divisive, unhelpful and quite frankly shouldn’t be accepted.
So powerful yet so simple ? #BeKind pic.twitter.com/0DaaF6WhTO
— Ryan Kirby (@RyanKirby2) February 17, 2020
“It’s not to say people can’t have a difference of opinion, it’s just doing it in a manner that is kind and reflecting on the fact that everyone is trying to do the best possible to the best of their ability. But we live in a strange time where everything we do in our lives can be put on a public forum.
“There is no place for it [personalised abuse] in any walk of life, let alone in sport. People are going out to do all they can to win and at the end of the day it is a game and there is always another the following week. Nothing is ever that important. The death threats, the toxic language and hate that is spread, it’s not acceptable.”
Reflecting on the inconsistent Leicester that exists now compared to the multi trophy-winning squad he was part of from 1997 through to 2010, Moody is hopeful that the settling of the relegation issue for this season will encourage Tigers to become more expressive in the months ahead and finish with a flourish.
“That has held them back in the performance because it was not where would have expected, certainly against France."@LewisMoody7 tells @heagneyl he thinks the Saracens elephant might still be in the room #ENGvIRE ?????????https://t.co/3CDkTpFoSI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 23, 2020
“It has been a tough five years for Leicester with various different coaches coming and going and certainly for a mate of mine in Geordan Murphy to be any the helm when those times are so tough,” said the Land Rover ambassador.
“For the club and some friends, I’m relieved that Saracens did get relegated because it means it takes the pressure off Leicester to some degree in that the relegation is no longer going to be something for them to worry about.
“It shows the pressures of the modern game, the challenges that they have had in terms of trying to fit into the salary cap, they have had a much smaller squad size to choose from whereas Sarries were able to have a greater squad size with more world-class players.
So here's how we stand after Round 11…#GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/8ju9WJGr53
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) February 23, 2020
“They probably look at some of those last few seasons and say it wasn’t on an even playing field, but hopefully the pressure is off the shoulders of the coaches at Leicester and they can start to relax and play some of the free-flowing rugby that they are capable of playing.
“Look at the backline they have, it’s second to none in terms of talent and the signings they have made and will be making. The real positive for Leicester is actually their academy side who over the last few seasons have performed really well, making it to academy finals.
“It shows the focus is being put in the right areas, looking at the young talent coming through and growing a new generation. All clubs need to be doing that but it is easy to say and challenging to do.”
WATCH: RugbyPass goes behind the scenes at the Leicester Tigers academy
Comments on RugbyPass
The current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 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
10 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.
10 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.
10 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).
10 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.
10 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.
10 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.
10 Go to commentsThose ears must give him great field awareness
1 Go to commentsFrench international centre Maelle Fillopon is death, too.
1 Go to comments