ADIDAS DUMPS SMITH
Passionate discussion over the All Blacks’ clobber is nothing new, finds Cherie Howie.
Shamed All Black Aaron Smith hasn’t just been dropped from the starting XV for the world champions’ seasonending match against France this morning. The 57-test halfback has also been dropped from a campaign marketing the new All Blacks jersey.
Smith was recorded in an incident in a Christchurch International Airport disabled toilet in October.
The 28-year-old, who has a partner, entered the bathroom dressed in his formal All Blacks uniform with a woman he met at the airport.
A couple outside the room recorded and reported the incident.
Smith was with the All Blacks in South Africa when the news broke and was sent home.
He apologised publicly and missed two tests.
However, the fallout continues. The Herald on Sunday has learned sponsor adidas wanted Smith removed from a marketing campaign for the treasured All Black jersey.
Adidas New Zealand country manager Quentin Bleakley confirmed the information in a statement: “After discussions with all parties, it was agreed that Aaron Smith’s imagery would be removed from the material to promote the new All Blacks jersey, however the campaign went ahead with five great All Blacks.”
The German apparel giant launched a controversial new black and white away jersey this week.
Smith returned to the All Blacks after his stand-down, but his form has been erratic and this week coach Steve Hansen said TJ Perenara would wear the No 9 jersey.
He admitted Smith’s confidence had been knocked by the saga.
The woman involved in the bathroom tryst also apologised in a written statement this month.
In 2014 a naked selfie of Smith was posted on the internet. Also that year, girlfriend Hannah Whitefield, dumped him after learning he had a fling with former stripper Lisa Lewis.
Revelations over Smith’s culling from the adidas campaign comes just days after the sportswear giants mistook Malakai Fekitoa for team-mate Julian Savea in a promotional video for this morning’s test against France.
The latest All Blacks away jersey has sparked debate. But debate over the treasured kit of our national rugby team is nothing new, it ’s quite old. Almost a century old, in fact.
In 1930 the All Blacks switched out of their black uniform for the first time, New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame chief executive and sports author, journalist and historian Ron Palenski tells the Herald on Sunday.
“Great Britain wore blue so the All Blacks changed to white. There was a bit of a fuss then. The All Blacks play in black. People don’t like it if you stuff with it.
“They’re passionate about the All Blacks, rugby is part of the New Zealand psyche, and the black jersey has been around for such a long time.”
The same goes for other highprofile Kiwi uniforms.
Official dress for our Rio Olympians was described variously as boring, dull and drab, and Air New Zealand felt the sting of fashion critics after launching uniform changes in 2005 and 2010. Its new uniforms were described as having the Thunderbirds and “Barbie” look respectively.
The All Blacks’ alternate strip was revealed on Monday, after a twoyear development process.
White from the chest down, with a slanted silver fern and plenty of space for a large logo of team sponsor AIG, the jersey will debut this morning in the All Blacks’ final test of 2016, against France in Paris.
The team will likely wear the jersey without complaint. The same cannot be said of some fans.
Palenski questions why the All Blacks are even switching — traditionally the home team wore an alternate strip to avoid a clash.
He is also perplexed at the decision to move away from the traditionally all-white alternate.
He believed decisions about the jersey were being driven by marketing, a theory also put forward by Northland MP New Zealand First leader Winston Peters this week.
“Clearly it ’s a sponsor pulling the strings for a new design in which their name dominates — on the new jersey the silver fern and the All Blacks name appear as an afterthought with AIG taking centre place in giant lettering.”
Palenski sounds a warning about changes to the beloved black jersey. “Tradition takes a long time to build up, but can be lost in an instant.”