An entertaining war of words between Australia back Matt Toomua and his former Leicester team-mates continued on Friday when Ben Youngs returned fire.
On Thursday, Toomua poked fun at five former colleagues, saying that Manu Tuilagi was “a terrible snooker player”, Dan Cole had “no personality”, George Ford “never buys a beer” and Youngs “was not even the best player in his family" - a reference to his brother, Tom, the former England hooker.
In response, Youngs continued the familial theme, referencing Toomua’s wife, Ellyse Perry, the superstar Australian cricketer and former international footballer.
“He’s pretty happy with himself, he sent me the video,” Youngs said. “It’s funny talking about [playing] second fiddle. He’s married to Ellyse Perry, so he knows my pain.”
There was japery in Tokyo, too, where Jack Goodhue, who is starting at centre for the All Blacks against Ireland, conducted his media engagements having shaved off his fulsome moustache, but still proudly sporting a mullet in the belief that it makes him more aerodynamic.
“I’m not getting rid of the mullet,” said Goodhue. “You can ask this every week, but it’s not going.
“There is scientific evidence that shows it makes me faster. It was done at Harvard, I think.”
