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Scottish international takes social media shot at Maro Itoje over trolling
By Ian Cameron
Maro Itoje's behaviour during Saracens win over Glasgow in Scotstoun yesterday has split rugby fans, pundits and player right down the middle.
Itoje celebrated a non-try scored by Glasgow Warriors after the PRO14 side failed to hear referee's whistle. Itoje (and Billy Vunipola) could be seen jumping up and down ironically as the Glasgow players celebrated.
The England forward's nose was later broken during what was a feisty encounter.
Ultimately Saracens ground out a 13-3 Pool 3 victory, but the backrow's behaviour gained plenty of attention online, both positive and negative. Some saw it as a hilarious jape and good gamesmanship, while others felt the Londoner traversed some invisible line of appropriateness.
Glasgow and Scotland scrumhalf Ali Price was very much in the latter camp, at least going on his tweet today. Price wrote 'Humble bloke' as he retweeted a video of Itoje's trolling.
It wasn't all negative. RugbyPass columnist Andy Goode saw the funny side, tweeting: "Is it me or am I the only one that finds Maro Itoje celebrating the Glasgow non try hilarious?!"
Itoje is no stranger to such behaviour, and what's more, he makes no apology for it.
'I am not really concerned about the feelings of people I play against,' Maro Itoje told the Daily Mail's Will Kelleher last week. 'I try my best not to do anything to actively aggravate someone, but I know some people find the way I play annoying from speaking to them.
'That is neither here nor there for me - I can live with that very, very easily. My main thing when I go out and play is doing whatever I can to make my team win, and everything else secondary to that.'
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Latest Comments
I do in that sense yes. I just think when it gets to 'don't stand out, toe the line', team first becomes a poor excuse for anti-individualism. If this 10 feels aggrieved and believes in himself, he should have the right to say it and put his money where his mouth is. That said, you can't fault Galthie's response. Very gallant gallic insouciance. ( I too live in France) :)
Go to commentsHe was Defence coach with Castres when they won the French Championship and they had the best defence in the competition so he does have credibility, he also has coached Oyonnax with limited resources to beat teams in the top 14 with much bigger budgets so the idea that he has no credibility is ignorant and incorrect, whether he will turn out to be a success is something that nobody knows however the RFU didn't just just say to Borthwick pick your friend, he had been on their radar for at least 5 years or more.
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