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England rugby star Mike Brown hits back at claims he doesn’t try following back-to-back Test defeats against South Africa
19th June 2018,
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MIKE BROWN says he will take on any England fan who abuses him for lacking effort — following a sensational spat with a supporter.
Furious Brown faced up to a raging Red Rose die-hard who was hammering him after the defeat to South Africa in Bloemfontein.
And the Harlequins star, known as Mr Angry, will not back down from another war of words if his professionalism is questioned again.
Brown, 32, said: “I had a supporter leaning over and saying in certain ways I wasn’t trying hard enough. I told him to ‘shut up’ and walked off.
“He was an England supporter and had a flag, kit and all sorts. He had the full gear. I was very happy with my reaction — I’m not a robot, I’m a human being.
“I’ve come in for a bit of criticism but I’m on 71 caps now — it would be nice to get a little bit of respect sometimes. I’m the most-capped full-back in English rugby.
“I told him to shut up like I would tell anyone if they said something like that. I think it’s rude and way off the mark.”
Brown was slagged off by the same punter who gave it to prop Joe Marler. Quins man Marler was caught swearing back at the fan by eye-witnesses, as things boiled over in the aftermath of last Saturday’s 23-12 Second Test defeat.
Scrum-half Ben Youngs also hit the headlines as he stormed out of a post-match interview with Sky Sports at the Free State Stadium.
It is not the first time on this tour that England — now beaten in their last six matches — have copped a spray from supporters.
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Boss Eddie Jones was sledged by rowdy and drunk Springboks fans at the First Test in Johannesburg. The Aussie called out his tormentors as stunned England stars looked on in the tunnel.
And Brown, who has scored tries in both Tests from a changed position on the wing, is ready for whatever the crowd chucks at him during Saturday’s third and final Test in Cape Town.
On his fan clash, he added: “At the end of the day he can say he doesn’t like me as a player and he doesn’t think I can do this, that or the other.
"That’s fine, that’s his opinion. But don’t ever say I’m not trying because people can see how much I put in on the field.
“I’m coming off with bumps and bruises and aching and I’ve given everything I can for England.
“Even if I make mistakes or don’t play very well, there’s never a game in my career where I haven’t put 100 per cent effort in. I don’t think anyone could ever say that about me.”
As exclusively revealed by SunSport on February 10, scores of England players have quit Twitter after being constantly trolled.
And Brown admitted he was one of those who turned his back on the social network.
He added: “I don’t use Twitter any more for that reason, because it’s not really feedback, it’s abuse.
“That’s off my phone. I don’t entertain that sort of thing any more.
“It is very hard for professional sportsmen when we are getting that sort of thing on social media and so on.
“Twitter is what it is. If you choose to be on it and look at it, it’s up to you. I choose not to. Each to their own.
“Some people are more thick-skinned and they can take it.
“You just have to deal with it the way you want to deal with it.”
England were beaten 42-39 in Johannesburg and are 2-0 down in the three-Test series following their explosive loss in Bloemfontein.
MIKE BROWN says he will take on any England fan who abuses him for lacking effort — following a sensational spat with a supporter.
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