Brian O'Driscoll has revealed how he engages with trolls online.
The Irish rugby great recieved a number of messages after stating that he believed Toulouse captain Julien Marchand should have been sent off for a challenge on Bordeaux's Romain Buros in the Champions Cup semi-finals.
The incident was missed at the time, but Marchand has since recieved a four-week suspension.
Speaking on Off The Ball, O'Driscoll explained: "For me it was a very simple red card - it was a chicken wing, high shot, there was no bend at the hips and it was third defender in. I don't know how the referee and TMO missed it but they did, and we highlighted it after the game.
"Since he has been suspended, I have received some interesting messages in Google Translate French in my direct messages on social media. My mum hasn't come out great from it!
"But it has been interesting to say the least. I've engaged with one or two of them. Like most people, as soon as you engage they tend to soften.
"This morning I'd had enough, where I was like 'are you guys still banging on about this? It's not on me, my job is to call things as I see it, it is not to protect players. If you are guilty of something then I have got to tell the viewers at home what my opinion is and that is the reality of it.'
"I said that I feel for Marchand - and I really do because he's missing out on the final - but I am not going to feel any guilt that I had any say in bringing it to the authorities' attention.
"They obviously do [feel that I did that] and I don't know how it has been reported over there. I haven't been privy to what they've been writing over there.
"Sam Warburton has been in the same boat as me, he has gotten some spicy messaging. To be honest, it is only Toulouse supporters because they are losing their captain, but I don't think anyone can be in disagreement that it was a red card offence."
On how engaging with the angry fans went, O'Driscoll added: "As I was saying, [engagement] softens this cough, and by the end of the conversation today it was like 'I've really enjoyed this exchange, we might differ on this point but you enjoy the game at the weekend.'
"That was from calling me every name under the sun in the initial messages..!"
