England’s head coach Stuart Lancaster has called on spectators at Twickenham to show more respect to opposing players, fans and match officials as the Rugby Football Union continue to investigate the alleged homophobic insults directed at referee Nigel Owens during last weekend’s match against New Zealand.
The incident, first raised in a letter to the Guardian from concerned supporter Keith Wilson, is being taken extremely seriously by the RFU, with CCTV footage still being examined in an effort to identify the individuals responsible.
Owens says he has considered quitting because of increasing abuse inside grounds and on social media.
Lancaster says he has been disturbed by the comments apparently aimed at the Welsh official: “I’m aware there’s an investigation going on and rightly so. We’ve worked hard in rugby to get the core values of the sport ingrained in the team and rugby in general, so there is no place for this whatsoever.
“Having met Nigel before the game on Friday we want him to have an enjoyable experience coming to England. It is a shame if he feels that memory has been tarnished by the allegation.”
Lancaster has also called on England fans to support their country positively rather than choosing to boo opposing players, but says he saw nothing wrong with the familiar Swing Low refrain being sung over the All Blacks’ haka last Saturday. “Things like respecting the kicker are important and making sure we are respectful of the opposition. I don’t think the crowd are being disrespectful by singing Swing Low during the haka. I think it was responding to a challenge and there is a difference there.
“I go back to the core values of what we are about. I think we need to show respect as a team and as a country to all opposition players, coaches, referees and opposition spectators as well. Generally you want a crowd that is behind the team but respecting the core values of the sport. That balance should easily be achievable. That is what we feel the crowd gives us. They give us a huge amount of energy.”
Lancaster is concerned, nevertheless, at the ever-increasing levels of scrutiny on officials and coaches in the modern game. “As international coaches we all understand the pressure that referees are under. Every decision gets analysed: every decision a player makes, every decision a coach makes. We have got to understand the pressures people are under and be supportive.”
England’s starting XV for Saturday’s Test against South Africa, meanwhile, shows just one enforced change. Bath’s Anthony Watson will make his first start on the wing in place of his injured Bath team-mate Semesa Rokoduguni. Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley have both recovered from blows to the head suffered against New Zealand.
