'When we cross the line into personal insults, the fun is gone'

Retired Ireland prop Marcus Horan has cried foul over the level of social media abuse attacking Simon Easterby’s team following last Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations trouncing by France in Dublin.

Looking to take a major step towards winning an unprecedented hat-trick of championship titles and a second Grand Slam in three seasons, the Irish were blown away by a second-half French barrage and two late consolation tries were needed to massage the damaging 27-42 margin of defeat.

The loss ignited a furious online reaction and Horan, an Irish Grand Slam winner in 2009, has taken issue with the personalised nature of the comments.

Erasmus explains why young players should ply their trade locally

Erasmus explains why young players should ply their trade locally

Writing on LinkedIn, the 67-cap former loosehead said: “After the disappointment of the weekend’s Six Nations game against France, the level of abuse of players has put the game into perspective.

“It’s only a game. A game played by people who carry the disappointment a lot longer than us.

“We are all entitled to opinions, and part of the whole experience is to critique the game with friends and family. But when we cross the line into personal insults, the fun is gone.

“From an Irish perspective, we have over achieved for a small country that has a grá [love] for all sports. Relish the good times and back our athletes when they need us the most.”

Last Saturday’s loss resulted in Ireland falling from pole position to third on the table behind France and England heading into this Saturday’s final round of matches.

The Irish will retake first place with a win away to Italy in the first of the round five fixtures, but the expectation is for them to then be overtaken later in the day with the English visiting Wales in Cardiff and the French hosting Scotland in Paris.