England star Ellis Genge has labelled Welsh fans who gave him abuse after last year’s Six Nations clash in Cardiff as “sad”.
The Leicester prop claimed he received death threats in the wake of the Principality Stadium showdown, which Wales won 40-24.
That followed a video circulating on social media which seemingly showed him not clapping the Welsh players off the field on the final whistle.
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He was also accused of pushing the face of a Wales player into the ground during a ruck, while he gave away a penalty late on, having come on as a sub.
The Tigers loosehead, who grew up in the Knowle West area of Bristol, spoke about “keyboard warriors” sending him death threats after that fixture.
Now, ahead of Saturday’s re-match at Twickenham, he has spoken again about the flak he received from Welsh fans on social media a year ago.
Responding to a question on the subject, he said: “You get grief after every game bro.
“If I sat there and picked out every message you got from people I’d be here every day.
“You should take it with a pinch of salt.
“I’m sure these people have got some tough things going on at home, as they’re obviously quite sad and have nothing else better to do than give a Knowle Wester some stick. Good on ‘em.”
The 33-cap Genge is certainly an intriguing character and someone who doesn’t shy away from straight-talking.
Take, for example, his reaction when asked about having turned 27 last week.
“I don’t really celebrate birthdays, I’m a bit of a Grinch in that respect,” he said.
“I celebrate Christmas because everyone else wants to do it.
“I’m not really into birthdays, Easter and all that stuff. I think it’s a money making scam, to be honest.”
Asked if he was excited about taking on Wales, he said: “I’m always excited.
“I’m really enjoying myself in camp. There would be something wrong with me if I wasn’t excited.”
And when it was put to him that Welsh tighthead Tomas Francis has spoken about his verbals at scrum-time, he replied: “I dunno. I don’t say much.”
But Genge is also someone who can be a compelling listen, as demonstrated by what he had to say about his Leicester and England team-mate Ben Youngs.
Scrum-half Youngs, who is set to win his 115th cap this weekend, broke down during a tearful interview while speaking about his brother, Tom, who is on indefinite leave from the Tigers as he cares for his wife, Tiffany, who is battling serious illness.
Commenting on Ben, Genge said: “I’ve got so much respect for the bloke. I can’t describe it.
“The stuff he’s sacrificed to achieve what he’s achieved in rugby, and what he gave up, which most people would take an arm off for, like staying at home for the Lions tours to support his brother and his family. He’s a f*****g legend, I love him to bits, he’s a great guy.
“We have got this incredible relationship, myself and Ben, we respect each other a lot.
“He’s a larger than life character, full of energy, driving standards.
“He’s just so much fun to be around. You’d think he’d get bored of it, but he turns up every day with a smile on his face regardless of what you’re doing, puts his arm round you and always pushes you to do your best.
“He has never taken himself too seriously. He got his head down, done what he’s needed to do and then gone above and beyond to achieve his goals being himself.
“It’s a good blueprint for anyone else. You don’t have to be a carbon cut-out of anyone else. Do you your own thing and hopefully that takes you all the way.”
Genge also spoke well about Courtney Lawes, who looks set to resume the England captaincy this weekend after recovering from injury.
“He is class. He is one of those characters who is completely himself,” he said.
“He turns up for every meeting a minute before which puts everyone at ease, because if he is late you haven’t got to worry about being late yourself.
“He is never actually late, he just turns up at the last second. He is so laid back he put everyone in a chilled mood and for some of the intense characters we have got in the squad it is good to have someone at the forefront of the ship that puts you at ease.”
Then there’s the insight Genge provides on centre Manu Tuilagi, who is set to return to the international stage against Wales.
“Besides being a world class player, he is a world class team mate,” he said.
“He is probably one of them you would think because of the genetics he is blessed with he doesn’t do the graft of the pitch.
“But he is relentless with his recovery, he is first in ice bath, last out of the sauna and for his off-field stuff he is very diligent.
“I think it is good for people coming through to see someone who is obviously so naturally gifted still doing stuff you don’t usually want to do.”
When then asked whether there was a misconception that Tuilagi is just a route one merchant, Genge returned to straight-talking mode.
“I dunno, I tend not to listen to what other people say because they just talk s**t, don’t they?” he said.
“They just make up random facts like apparently Manu can only run in a straight line, but you watch that clip when they played New Zealand in 2014 and he runs up the wing and gasses everyone. It is just one person’s opinion.”
He added: “I am a prop, I get my head down and I don’t worry too much about what Manu is going to do, to be honest.
“He obviously gets you on the front foot, he is a world class team mate, a world class operator, but I don’t really go into the intricacies of the backs’ moves and stuff.
“I am sure if he gets picked they will be using him at the forefront in a game like this.”
It was also revealing to hear Genge talk about his school days in Bristol, with pupils from his old school set to be at Twickenham on Saturday.
“I had mixed reviews at school. It probably wasn’t the best place for me, education in general,” he said.
“But the teachers there were really nice. I still keep in touch with a few of them.
“It’s nice to know the people from the school I went to are coming up and have an interest in rugby.
“There was a small rugby programme when I was there.
“I actually think we did a Twickenham trip and we went to the Principality Stadium with one of our Welsh teachers.”
Finally, he was asked whether this is his favourite fixture, with the rivalry standing out?
“No, not really,” he replied.
“I think everyone always wants to beat England, whatever team you are, and traditionally people sort of up the ante for these games, but every game is important.
“The history between England and Wales is mint, that’s class. I think the game has progressed now so much, it’s so intense, that we haven’t got too much time to build hatred. All that stuff takes away from you a bit, definitely for me anyway.”
So that’s Ellis Genge, a very singular individual.
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