FROM THE EDITOR

Geez, we’ve become a bunch of whingers and moaners. To be fair, there are many things in new Zealand life that are justifiably getting us down.

rugby should not be one of them. you’ve come to the wrong place if you want to tap into the left-wing, anti-rugby agenda. There are plenty of websites out there willing to give your anger and angst a platform.

now, in fairness, rugby has tested the faith and patience of its fans in more recent times. The safety-first policy, laudable in theory, has led to a dynamic game being rinsed through the woke eiderdown. Accidental head clashes? Don’t get me started.

The TMO powers, such a lightning rod during rugby world Cup, have been curtailed. We want a fast game, not a drawn-out affair like we see in gridiron.

The other gripe from the pessimists is that rugby has become too predictable. we always know who is going to win and the game is too slow and ponderous, they cry. yet, as I write this editorial, the fourth round of the Six Nations and the third round of Super Rugby Pacific have thrown up some remarkable upsets and results.

If you picked Italy to beat an on-the-up scotland for the Azzurri’s first home win in that competition in a decade, then you are possibly nostradamus. If you picked that and then tipped england to beat Ireland at Twickenham, as we saw with Marcus smith’s late match-winning dropped goal, then you’re a fair dinkum genius.

england, traditionally so sterile in its approach, actually played with pace, confidence and verve to beat what we thought was the best team on the planet. so do not think that steve borthwick’s men will be a pushover come July. Maybe they have found the recipe, and it involves Henry slade at centre and not having Owen Farrell in the five-eighths.

The Melbourne rebels were leading srp for a short time, not bad for a team facing the wall financially. They have galvanised on the field and tipped over Moana Pasifika in Hamilton. Watching the Fijian Drua outmuscle the naïve Crusaders in Lautoka took me back 12 months. The Drua won this in the forwards, but a year ago we had more confidence that the Crusaders would bounce back. now, who knows what to believe?

Those who had seen the Chiefs dismantle the brumbies in the super round would have been shocked to see them fall to the reds. There was nothing predictable about Australian sides thrice winning transtasman encounters.

Our lead feature on the abuse of referees from elite to grassroots levels is an important one. some were understandably worried about our angle, believing it might act as a deterrent to attract younger referees into the sport. but the reality is that there are more support pillars in place than ever before for aspiring match officials. You are no longer just chucked a whistle and told to get on with it. Most refs I have encountered are good rugby people. They love the game as much as anyone else and, as wayne barnes quipped, are not there for the sole purpose of ruining your saturday afternoon.

I had a coach who, with tongue only slightly embedded in his cheek, would say: ‘All refs are f ******* .’ He was wrong. Most of them love what they do and have the best seat in the house. They don’t mind some humorous free advice. but they could do without the threats of violence to them and their family.