‘League’s Mad Mondays make Chiefs’ one look like tea party’
New Zealand rugby on the skids? Give us a break, says Australian scribe and former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons.
While the Chiefs’ Mad Monday celebrations with a stripper, All Black halfback Aaron Smith’s bathroom antics, and the Losi Filipo assault case captured significant attention here, there was little evidence to suggest New Zealand international rugby reputation sustained negative impact, he said.
‘‘We are aware of various behavioural atrocities, but the image of the All Blacks is so positive, so strong. It would take more than those kind of things to do any lasting damage,’’ the Sydney Morning Herald columnist said. ‘‘Besides, when we are in the mood to read about sporting atrocities, we are already well supplied by the NRL and don’t need to really import any.’’
His was a sentiment echoed by fellow countryman, sports writer Matt Cleary, who felt the Chiefs’ incident to be relatively mild misbehaviour.
‘‘It would rate fairly low on rugby league’s disgrace-o-meter,’’ Cleary said.
‘‘Rugby league’s Mad Mondays make the Chiefs’ one look like a tea party. With actual tea. And no party.
‘‘The All Blacks and New Zealand rugby represent rugby excellence. The fact that some of their players aren’t perfect citizens off the pitch? Well, knock us down with a feather.’’
From England, Daily Telegraph reporter Mick Cleary felt the Chiefs’ saga was ‘‘a bit old fashioned’’ – something more reminiscent of a ‘‘junior rugby club of 25 years, rather than a professional outfit’’.
One of the UK’s top rugby writers, he questioned whether ‘‘naivety’’ and ‘‘weak management’’ contributed to the handling errors made by administrators following the furore.
‘‘It would be naive to think that they are not as prone to behavioural issues as anyone else,’’ he said. Mick Cleary was perplexed rugby had a perceived culture problem, given New Zealand was the first country to allow women to vote. ‘‘I have been in New Zealand several times and it’s not something that I’ve picked up on that’s really a real embedded attitude at all. ‘‘All the matches I’ve attended there, all the crowds, are mixed in terms of gender. I’ve probably had more interesting conversations with females [about rugby] in New Zealand than with males.’’ Both FitzSimons and Matt Cleary supported moves for the game to improve interaction with women. "Sports over here are making all those noises, too, and backing them with action, money and marketing. White Ribbon Day, Women in League round, all that,’’ Matt Cleary said. ‘‘But you’re always going to get your dinosaurs, your misogynists . . . it can’t hurt to publicise respect for women.’’
Smith’s encounter in a Christchurch Airport bathroom was the issue that gained international notoriety, Mick Cleary said.
‘‘He was sent home and was made to front up publicly which was a pretty chastening and humiliating experience for him, but very necessary and I thought, in contrast, with how England dealt with off-field incidents in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand with the dwarf throwing in Queenstown,’’ he said.
‘‘[England Rugby] didn’t really front up to it and it kind of festered and lingered and led to an enormous fall-out two or three weeks after the World Cup, with (coach) Martin Johnson retiring.’’
Matt Cleary said the Smith incident was mainstream news in Australia, yet may perversely have enhanced the reputation of the All Blacks over there.
‘‘[Smith’s] teary address at the airport, that was hard to watch. But it gave Aussie sports fans – those that perhaps aren’t into rugby – an idea of the esteem the All Blacks are held in,’’ he said. ‘‘Aaron took a big risk . . . has paid a pretty big price in terms of damage to his reputation, much less his relationship.’’ His English namesake shared the same view, pointing to the All Blacks’ winning streak. ‘‘Played 17, won 17,’’ Mick Cleary said. ‘‘I don’t think it’s really coloured the perception of the All Blacks. Their performances on the field have been so startling and exhilarating, most of the attention goes there and probably rightly so.’’ Nor did FitzSimons see any waning in the power of the All Blacks, ahead of tonight’s Bledisloe Cup match – Australia have not held the cup in 14 years. ‘‘It will be a great day when we win it back, but it, frankly, seems more likely there will be a President Donald Trump.’’