Ex-Munster player Trevor Hogan was on Newstalk's Off The Ball tonight to react to a mixed weekend in Europe for the Irish provinces.
Hogan was extremely irate at the ironic cheering of Ian Keatley's substiution by Munster fans during their home defeat to Leicester Tigers. Keatley endured a torrid game, and missed a particularly straightforward kick in the first-half that preceded a try for the Tigers.
Upon his substitution later in the game, Keatley was met by a volley of ironic cheers from the home supporters, which Anthony Foley described as "very disappointing from a very knowledgeable crowd".
Trevor Hogan went further with his condemnation of the Munster fan's reaction.
It's absolutely unjustifiable. If you're a supporter, that is a line you do not cross...The only thing that is lower is racism or sexual harrasment. That is pathetic. The Munster fans are the most passionate and knowledgeable around, so that's why it's even more disappointing to hear that.
It is the opposite of support. You're nine points down, there's still a chance to get a bonus point, there's still a chance to win and to send that message...You talk about the unity of the fans and the players, that it's got to be rigid, to be unbreakable, no matter what happens on the field...To actually kick him while he's down like that... I love the Munster fans, I'm a Munster man, but I would never dream of doing that.
Hogan saved his strongest words for the end.
The fans that did it need to look at themselves - hard - and ask themselves 'are you a real supporter, a real Munster person'? Because what you did there was worse than anything that has happened in Thomond Park, I would say, ever. It was just disgraceful.
That's an incredibly forceful condemnation by Hogan. You can listen to the entire segment here.
Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
See Also: The French Press Are Really Ripping Into Johnny Sexton This Weather
See Also: A Visibly Pissed-Off Anthony Foley Gives A Blunt Opinion On Munster Loss
