James Haskell makes passionate defence of Ellis Genge interview

"They won't say it because they're frightened of it."

England battled the elements, and the Scots, at Murrayfield and were locked at 3-3 until the 71st minute. Stuart Hogg's fumble over his tryline looked to have cost his side a score but, instead, resulted in an attacking scrum for England. Their forwards rumbled close and Ellis Genge finished off from close range. "I love, when he scored," said James Haskell, "just how angry he was." England ended up winning 13-6 to keep their championship hopes alive but, after the game, there was still fire burning in the belly of the Leicester Tigers prop as he had a go at those that were critical of the side when they succumbed to France. “A lot of sausages have been saying whatever comes into their heads," he told the BBC.

"There was a bump in the road and suddenly the coach [Eddie Jones] should be sacked and the team can’t play rugby. What are they saying? I think we shut the critics up today and I hope they were watching that.”

https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1226271991373582337 On the latest episode of House of Rugby UK, host Alex Payne ran the rule all of the championship goings on with James Haskell and Mike Tindall. The trio also covered that Genge interview with Haskell making a passionate defence of the Bristol native.

"I don't think there is one player that is currently playing that doesn't think that the media mug people off, and that certain fans mug people off. And they won't say it because they're frightened of it. "For Ellis coming out and saying something on that platform, every player watching at home would have rallied and said, 'Yeah, the world is full of absolute sausages'... if you do that and have a personality about it, I think that's fine."

Haskell is incredulous about the criticism Genge received for drinking a beer during his BBC interview. "They're recovering, they're hydrating, they've had a fantastic win at a tough place to go," said Haskell. "They haven't won in Scotland for a good couple of years. "He's having one beer before he goes back to his hotel and hydrates and gets back into training. Just to let you know, one beer won't affect you... It's just a crock of ****. These people are pathetic." Tindall agreed that the hullabaloo over the Ellis Genge interview was "ridiculous". As Homer Simpson would say, 'Toot on, son. Toot on!' WATCH THAT FULL SHOW HERE:

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SUBSCRIBE TO HOUSE OF RUGBY UK: https://playpodca.st/house-of-rugby Alex Payne is joined in the House of Rugby UK studio by James Haskell and Mike Tindall. They discuss all the Guinness Six Nations goings on, 'Bottle Gate' at Murrayfield, and Ellis Genge talking "sausages" in interviews.

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