1
'In my car crying. Hope you're happy' - BBC pundit Tweets after trolls send online abuse
BBC journalist Sonja McLaughlan says she has been left in tears after trolls hounded her on social media in the aftermath of today’s Wales England game in the Principality Stadium.
ADVERTISEMENT
McLaughlan rightly pushed England captain Owen Farrell hard after the match on the controversial decisions in the game, England’s ill-discipline and alertness to danger and the performance of referee Pascal Gauzere.
Farrell clearly became a little waspish towards the end of the interview, at one stage cutting off McLaughlan mid-question.
Owen Farrell says "there's no point in talking about" Wales' controversial opening try after England were beaten 40-24 in Cardiff.#sixnations #bbcrugby #WALvENG pic.twitter.com/P1rMTjdsIU
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 27, 2021
It led many arm-chair critics to tear into her on Twitter, with hundreds of unkind messages of abuse levelled at the veteran presenter. Such was the torrent of abuse that it left the presenter weeping in her car after the game.
“Toxic, embarrassing, disgraceful, appalling. Just some of the feedback I’ve had.
“Thanks for using @ sign so it’s all hit home.
“Now imagine getting inundated with abuse for doing your job. In my car crying. Hope you’re happy.”
https://twitter.com/Sonjamclaughlan/status/1365757473462829066
Commentator Nick Mullins defended his friend and colleague: “To everyone who’s made sure my best mate Sonja’s driving home from Cardiff with tears in her eyes tonight: Look back at your Tweet and ask if you’d say that to your mum, wife, girlfriend or daughter. She’s world-class and you need to have a look at yourselves.”
ADVERTISEMENT
To everyone who’s made sure my best mate Sonja’s driving home from Cardiff with tears in her eyes tonight: Look back at your Tweet and ask if you’d say that to your mum, wife, girlfriend or daughter. She’s world class and you need to have a look at yourselves.
— Nick Mullins (@andNickMullins) February 27, 2021
“Brilliant interviewing from Sonja Mclaughlan to Owen Farrell. Asked tough fair questions and kept going when he wouldn’t answer! Top work Sonja!” said Andy Goode.
Brilliant interviewing from @Sonjamclaughlan to Owen Farrell. Asked tough fair questions and kept going when he wouldn’t answer! Top work Sonja!
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) February 27, 2021
Fellow presenter Sarra Elgan Easterby described McLaughlan as a ‘consummate professional’.
“Social media can be exhausting! Why do we have to be so negative about others? Everyone is free to their opinion but trashing & tagging that person in is wrong. Sonja is a consummate professional,” posted Elgan.
Social media can be exhausting! Why do we have to be so negative about others? Everyone is free to their opinion but trashing & tagging that person in is wrong. Sonja is a consummate professional https://t.co/Qx9suTL5hg
— Sarra Elgan Easterby (@Sarraelgan) February 27, 2021
Irish rugby pundit Joe Molly wrote: “Sonja, sorry to hear, you asked exactly the right questions, it would have been bizarre NOT to take your line of questioning. Was spot on. Dunno what people expected? Start that car and enjoy your evening after a job well done.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Sonja, sorry to hear, you asked exactly the right questions, it would have been bizarre NOT to take your line of questioning. Was spot on. Dunno what people expected? Start that car and enjoy your evening after a job well done.
— Joe Molloy (@MolloyJoe) February 27, 2021
Former Ireland international turned pundit Bernard Jackman posted an appropriate meme, saying: “A tiger doesn’t lose sleep over the opinion of sheep.”
I thought you were excellent today Sonja and remember ? pic.twitter.com/auRDEJOzeO
— Bernard Jackman (@bernardjackman) February 27, 2021
Former player and Head of Player Affairs at the RPA, Christian Day, posted: “Don’t apologise for doing your job Sonja. Unfortunately social media can be an awful place at times. Leave the trolls under the bridge where they belong and speak with the people who really matter.”
Don’t apologise for doing your job Sonja. Unfortunately social media can be an awful place at times. Leave the trolls under the bridge where they belong and speak with the people who really matter ??
— Christian Day (@christianday) February 27, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments