Rugby Should Relish Animosity And Aggression - Genge

Quilter Nations Series: England v Fiji

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Date: Saturday, 8 November Kick-off: 17:40 GMT

Coverage: Live connected Radio 5 Sports Extra; unrecorded matter commentary connected nan BBC Sport website & app

England prop Ellis Genge says rugby's confrontations and physicality are a cardinal to its entreaty now "society has gone rather soft".

Genge, who will beryllium England's starting skipper against Fiji connected Saturday, was astatine nan centre of an injury-time tussle that drew successful astir of nan 2 teams successful past weekend's triumph complete Australia.

"It was conscionable a spot of a squabbling. We can't whack anyone anymore. So, yeah, conscionable a spot of argy-bargy," he told Rugby Union Weekly.

"I bask nan animosity of rugby. I bask that we're an abrasive sport.

"I deliberation we should relish it arsenic opposed to awkward distant from it.

"Society nowadays astir apt enjoys coming to watch america play because I consciousness that society's gone rather soft if I'm being honest."

The position of Genge, who has played pinch images of legendary heavyweight boxers Mike Tyson and Muhammed Ali painted connected his boots successful nan past, chimes pinch others successful English rugby.

The Prem – England's home apical formation – unapologetically celebrates large hits and aggression arsenic portion of a rebrand of nan convention this season.

Genge says he finds 1 of nan hardest things astir modern rugby is nan demands that it makes connected his family life.

After spending six weeks connected circuit pinch nan British and Irish Lions complete nan summer, nan 30-year-old begetter of 3 had mixed feelings astir returning to nan England campy for nan autumn internationals.

"It's been good, but I'd beryllium lying to you if I said I haven't struggled," he said.

"It's rather daunting really. I don't for illustration leaving them [family] astatine location anymore.

"I said to Joe Marler [former England prop who retired from world rugby astatine nan property of 28 to walk much clip pinch his family earlier returning to nan Test scene] nan different day, 'I really understand why you packed it successful a fewer times, because it's difficult, packing up and leaving, packing up and leaving'.

"It's been tough, but successful nan aforesaid breath, I ever opportunity to my missus, if I'm here, I'm each in. You've sewage to beryllium unapologetically committed to nan situation."

With accustomed skipper Maro Itoje connected nan bench, nan gathering pinch Fiji will people Genge's 3rd clip starring England.

His first was a grounds location conclusion – nan 53-10 mauling by France successful March 2023 – and his 2nd was a 20-9 nonaccomplishment to Wales successful a World Cup warm-up 5 months later.

"Yeah, record-breaker," Genge joked erstwhile his games arsenic skipper were brought up.

"I deliberation nan squad grew, not that we did it connected purpose. But nan moments that we had successful those horrible times, for illustration nan conclusion by France astatine Twickenham, really was a spot of a leapfrog for us."

Genge, whose teamtalks were a characteristic of nan behind-the-scenes footage from nan Lions tour, says he focuses connected motivating his team-mates done some words and action.

"I'm not overmuch of a tactician. I admit that broadside of nan game, but you wouldn't inquire monkeys to aquatics and food to climb trees," he said.

"So I'm not going to beryllium location pinch a whiteboard and show everyone really to play nan game. I'm bully astatine nan affectional and nan beingness broadside of nan game. So I'll instrumentality to that."

England coach Steve Borthwick says location are fewer amended successful that regard.

"Ellis has an unbelievable expertise to springiness a connection worthy a 1000 words pinch conscionable a facial look aliases pinch a look," said Borthwick.

"He's a proud man, a awesome bloke, superb rugby subordinate and an outstanding leader. If I was still playing, he's nan benignant of feline you would travel and want to lead you out."