Rugby World Cup 2019: Jonathan Joseph relieved rugby doesn’t have a racism problem after friend Tyrone Mings abused

England internationals went to school together and remain close friends, with Joseph horrified to hear that Mings has been targeted for the colour of his skin on his England debut

England centre Jonathan Joseph is relieved he doesn’t face the same vile racism that has overshadowed the national football team’s 6-0 victory over Bulgaria, after seeing close friend Tyrone Mings among those racially abused on his Three Lions debut.

The Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia twice had to be halted due to racist chanting from sections of the home support, with Uefa’s three-step protocol for dealing with such scenarios enacted for the very first time inside a Vasil Levski National Stadium that was already partially closed due to previous racist incidents.

Racism within rugby union is virtually unheard of at professional level and the events in Bulgaria are a stark contrast to the atmosphere that has engulfed the Rugby World Cup in Japan, where fans and players have been lauded for their behaviour and respect.

But when asked about the incident that involved his former Millfield School classmate, Joseph admitted he’s glad he doesn’t have to face what the Aston Villa defender had to endure on Monday night.

“I have seen bits of it, read up on it. It’s not great what happened out in Bulgaria,” Joseph said.

“From what I have heard they were very professional about it and at the same time trying to stand up for what is right as well. We are fortunate in the sport we are in to not see any of that stuff happen to us. You just hope things will get better for them.

“On a personal level I am delighted that he has got his first cap. It could have been in better circumstances, but I’m happy to see a mate do so well.”

Joseph was speaking ahead of England’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Australia this Saturday in what will be a repeat of their 2007 last-eight showdown.

The Bath centre looks set to return to the matchday squad with Jack Nowell’s inclusion looking increasingly unlikely, with the wing struggling to recover from a hamstring injury and missing training once again on Tuesday. If Joseph is subsequently handed the final shirt in the matchday squad, he will be needed to cover the wing as well as his natural outside centre role, with Henry Slade offering back-up at full-back, but it appears unlikely that he will force his way into the starting XV ahead of Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi, who have started two of England’s three matches at centre so far this tournament.

Australia also have a settled pairing in the shape of Samu Kerevi and James O’Connor, and though Joseph believes he England are better suited to concentrate on their own abilities, he recognises the individual talents that the two Wallaby midfielders will bring.

“Obviously you will have a look at the opposition, but you concentrate on yourself, what your game plan is going to look like,” he added.

Joseph is expected to return to the England squad on Saturday (Getty)

“Kerevi is a fantastic player, I have seen him develop and get better and better over the past few years. He is such a threat with ball in hand and we have seen that in this World Cup, he loves getting his hands on the ball and loves his offloading game. He is destructive when he gets his hands on the ball.

“It has changed slightly with the change of personnel. You could argue O’Connor is going to release his outside backs a bit more than [Tevita] Kuridrani. But our system doesn’t change, we work in unison – 10, 12, 13 we are all working together and are going to solve it together.”