In a fiery press conference on Friday, Stormers coach John Dobson and captain Ruhan Nel took a stand against the relentless online attacks targeting their players. The vitriol, often crossing the line into personal territory, drew sharp criticism from the team's leadership.
Dobson unleashed on the faceless critics peppering social media with harsh comments. "I genuinely don’t read it," he stated. "But when you see it, it’s unbelievable. People who know nothing about our process or what a player is going through – whether an injury or their family – feel free to assassinate someone’s character." The issue isn't just the criticisms themselves but their deeply personal nature. Dobson noted,
"To say this guy is shit and shouldn’t be part of the Stormers, and that La Rochelle is not far enough away for Salmaan Moerat …"
The digital age has exacerbated this issue, according to Dobson. "Social media has changed things dramatically," he added. He contrasts the often uninformed online commentary with more traditional journalism, which tends to offer a more balanced viewpoint, emphasizing the principle of hearing the other side.
Dobson also touched on the surreal levels of hostility players face, saying, "What’s he done wrong? Made mistakes on a rugby field? He hasn’t gone and invaded a country and strung nuns from a tree. But that’s the sort of level of abuse you get now." He highlighted the professional pressures and physical dangers of rugby, underscoring the absurdity of the severe backlash players receive for on-field errors.
"The guy couldn’t handle it … he’s in Japan now."
This was Dobson referring to former Stormers flyhalf Manie Libbok, illustrating the tangible impact of online harassment.
Nel concurred, acknowledging that while criticism is part of the sport, there is a line that should not be crossed. "If I miss a tackle or throw a forward pass, I’m open to criticism," Nel said. However, he stressed that personal attacks and threats are entirely unacceptable. "No one goes out there trying to make mistakes," he added, emphasizing the human element inherent in the game.
The Stormers are not just about handling criticism but also celebrating achievements. As they gear up to honor rugby legends Chippie and Scat, the team also looks forward to seeing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, whom Dobson tipped as a future rugby great, back at the flyhalf position against the URC’s best defense.
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In a fiery press conference on Friday, Stormers coach John Dobson and captain Ruhan Nel took a stand against the relentless online attacks targeting their players. The vitriol, often crossing the line into personal territory, drew sharp criticism from the team's leadership.
Dobson unleashed on the faceless critics peppering social media with harsh comments. "I genuinely don’t read it," he stated. "But when you see it, it’s unbelievable. People who know nothing about our process or what a player is going through – whether an injury or their family – feel free to assassinate someone’s character." The issue isn't just the criticisms themselves but their deeply personal nature. Dobson noted,
"To say this guy is shit and shouldn’t be part of the Stormers, and that La Rochelle is not far enough away for Salmaan Moerat …"
The digital age has exacerbated this issue, according to Dobson. "Social media has changed things dramatically," he added. He contrasts the often uninformed online commentary with more traditional journalism, which tends to offer a more balanced viewpoint, emphasizing the principle of hearing the other side.
Dobson also touched on the surreal levels of hostility players face, saying, "What’s he done wrong? Made mistakes on a rugby field? He hasn’t gone and invaded a country and strung nuns from a tree. But that’s the sort of level of abuse you get now." He highlighted the professional pressures and physical dangers of rugby, underscoring the absurdity of the severe backlash players receive for on-field errors.
"The guy couldn’t handle it … he’s in Japan now."
This was Dobson referring to former Stormers flyhalf Manie Libbok, illustrating the tangible impact of online harassment.Nel concurred, acknowledging that while criticism is part of the sport, there is a line that should not be crossed. "If I miss a tackle or throw a forward pass, I’m open to criticism," Nel said. However, he stressed that personal attacks and threats are entirely unacceptable. "No one goes out there trying to make mistakes," he added, emphasizing the human element inherent in the game.
The Stormers are not just about handling criticism but also celebrating achievements. As they gear up to honor rugby legends Chippie and Scat, the team also looks forward to seeing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, whom Dobson tipped as a future rugby great, back at the flyhalf position against the URC’s best defense.