Speak up and take a bow
to send its recommendations to World Rugby.
Yes, believe it or not, Sanzaar fired out a meaningful statement – a far cry from its previous one regarding the future of its competitions, which could only be described as laughable.
It’s something, and fans should cherish anything, but it isn’t going to address incidents such as the red card Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe wielded last weekend, the type of decision which could cost a team a World Cup or Super Rugby title.
O’Keeffe said he had ‘‘no other option’’ but to red card Sunwolves loose forward Ed Quirk for a ‘‘facial’’ on Reds player Hamish Stewart. Boy, did Brown and Thorn let him have it when they fronted the media after the match.
‘‘ ‘I’ve got no other option’, what a load of crap. That’s just embarrassing,’’ said acting Sunwolves coach Brown. ‘‘It’s got bizarre – the referee’s almost looking to promote themselves by being in the media, being the guy that does it.’’
Unlike some Kiwi coaches, who are seemingly too afraid to speak out in fear of jeopardising their future or getting a rap on the knuckles from their employer, Brown has never been afraid to do the dirty work.
Just last week, after another of his Sunwolves was harshly red carded, he was at it.
Last year, when he was employed by NZ Rugby and in charge of the Highlanders, he lashed officials three times, including after his team’s 17-0 loss to the Crusaders in the quarterfinals, after a ‘‘poor’’ yellow card to Liam Squire.
Brown, who has aspirations to return to New Zealand, let Aussie Angus Gardner have it on that occasion. Earlier in the season, it was Kiwi Paul Williams who copped it, after he harshly yellow carded Malakai Fekitoa in the Highlanders’ home loss to the Crusaders.
He also lined up South African Marius van der Westhuizen for binning Matt Faddes for an apparent late hit in a narrow win against the Cheetahs in South Africa.
‘‘No way that’s a yellow card,’’ Brown said.
What Brown says is what most people are thinking, and he’s had some hefty backup from Thorn and Boyd this season.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is another who should be credited for teeing off at World Rugby, demanding changes and questioning where the game is going.
If only more coaches and players stopped spooning out the same old robotic answers, stopped being ‘‘yes men’’ and went to work on the governing body which has a ton to answer for.