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Owen Farrell has condemned the online vilification of Tom Curry after the England flanker alleged he was racially abused in Saturday\u2019s World Cup semi-final defeat by South Africa.<\/p>\n
England are furious that Curry has been targeted online for claiming to referee Ben O\u2019Keeffe that he had been called a \u201cwhite c***\u201d by Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi.<\/p>\n
World Rugby is examining audio and video footage from the Stade de France clash as part of its investigation into the incident which is still ongoing, but in the meantime Curry has been the victim of a social media pile-on described by his club Sale as \u201cdisgusting\u201d.<\/p>\n
A visibly angry Farrell on Wednesday defended his team-mate, who wins his 50th cap in Friday\u2019s bronze final against Argentina.<\/p>\n
\u201cTom has been first class this week, like he always is. He\u2019s one of the most honest, most hard working blokes I\u2019ve ever played with,\u201d England captain Farrell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat isn\u2019t understandable is the amount of abuse he\u2019s got. The effect that has on him is the bit that I, and we, really don\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I know it seems to be going more and more like this, but it shouldn\u2019t be, it shouldn\u2019t be.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are dealing with people, with human beings. Just because you\u2019re saying stuff on your phone or behind a computer screen doesn\u2019t make it acceptable. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s acceptable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis doesn\u2019t make me look fondly at engaging with people outside of the people that are close to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Head coach Steve Borthwick has made it clear that Curry has been unjustly thrust into the eye of the storm in a doubling down of England\u2019s claim that the Sale forward was racially abused by Mbonambi.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not a Tom Curry incident. Somebody said something in a game that he has reported,\u201d Borthwick said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow this is a World Rugby and SA Rugby matter to deal with, not an England rugby nor a Tom Curry matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curry continues in the back row, although he shifts from openside to blindside flanker as one of 10 changes \u2013 eight in personnel \u2013 made to the side to face Argentina.<\/p>\n
Borthwick insists he had no hesitation in standing Curry down for the rematch of the Pool D opener which England won despite having the 25-year-old sent off in the third minute for a dangerous tackle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way Tom play means he has more involvements than any other player on the pitch. And they are physically powerful involvements,\u201d Borthwick said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he came off the pitch against South Africa he was cut and bloodied and that\u2019s exactly how Tom Curry plays.<\/p>\n
\u201cI chatted to him early in the week about how he was physically with another six-day turnaround and he looked straight at me and point blank said: \u2018I am desperate to play on Friday night\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis guy wants to play. There is no doubt in my mind he wants to be out there and the way he has prepared through the week has been incredible.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut that\u2019s Tom Curry. It\u2019s the way he does it every single week so I couldn\u2019t be more proud of him.\u201d<\/p>\n
With no indication of when World Rugby\u2019s inquiry will conclude, Mbonambi will take part in Saturday\u2019s World Cup final against New Zealand with a cloud hanging over him.<\/p>\n
He has completed the last two matches \u2013 fierce battles against France and England \u2013 and given the lack of front line hooker cover, is set to play another 80 minutes against the All Blacks.<\/p>\n
South Africa assistant coach Felix Jones said: \u201cBongi has come through both of those games fine. Any player who is getting ready to play in a World Cup final won\u2019t moan about how many minutes they\u2019ve had. They\u2019ll be ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n