Ellis Genge hits out at ‘absolute tool’ Matt Dawson for Owen Farrell criticism

Ellis Genge has labelled Matt Dawson “an absolute tool” for his criticism of England captain Owen Farrell.

England responded to their Calcutta Cup defeat to Scotland with a comprehensive victory over Italy in the Six Nations 2021 last weekend.

But Farrell’s form and role in Eddie Jones’ side has been the source of discussion, with World Cup winner Dawson critical.

Farrell was accused of being “rattled” and “on the edge” in Dawson’s recent BBC column, as well as “holding England back”.

READ MORE: England iron out the kinks against Italy with sterner Six Nations tests to come

But Genge, speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Rugby Podcast with former England internationals James Haskell and Mike Tindall, has dismissed the criticism as “baloney”.

"I came in then and you were talking about Matt Dawson saying Faz [Farrell] isn't cut out to play for England,” Genge said. “Oh my god, what's that about? Why would you say something like that?

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“I find, no disrespect to you Tinds [Tindall], I know you're not the youngest cat on the block, but some of those boys, especially some of the older boys, they just talk utter s***, and it's like Hask [Haskell] said, you've got to sort of, to stay relevant, you have to talk a lot of s*** and spout a lot of nonsense.

READ MORE: James Haskell calls on rugby to stop ‘paying lip service’ in sport’s battle against concussion

“So I don't feel like it's a reflection on him as a bloke, but he sounded like an absolute tool saying stuff like that. It's just baloney, isn't it?”

Farrell has been backed by former England international Danny Care who has urged Jones to “stick with” his skipper.

READ MORE: Six Nations 2021: Fixtures, dates, kick-off times, results and full match schedule

"People were saying he was the best player in the world and nearly won us a World Cup. Now they are screaming for him not to play," Care said on BBC Radio 5 Live's Rugby Union Weekly. "Everybody can have an occasional game where everything doesn't go brilliantly for them."

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