Marty Devlin says there is only one streak worth talking about when it comes to the All Blacks.
CALL ME OLD, a fuddy duddy, the fun police, a curmudgeonly grump – whatever. For when it comes to streakers at the rugby, or any other similar sporting occasion for that matter, then yes I’ll admit to being a total grinch.
Truth is, a test match needs a streaker like it needs ( more) misfiring fireworks. Neither crowd nor players nor administrators nor security nor police nor court needs the naked sprinter.
Let me be clear here. I’m in no way anti the young woman who trespassed onto the pitch during the All Blacks versus Argentina match in Napier, it’s purely her actions I’ve grown increasingly tired of.
Happily proclaiming ‘ no regrets’ while attempting to justify the intrusion ‘ because it was part of my bucket list’ is selfish enough. Glamourising the incident by leading the next night’s TV news with her antics remains equally baffling and even more inexcusable. Was this really the biggest, most essential piece of news content to occur in this country within that last 24 hours?
For the major television networks to consider a streaker boasting about disrupting a rugby test to be the single most important story of the day was as embarrassing as was her nude wobbling.
In case you’re unaware of what happened, she ran on, slapped Israel Dagg on the butt, then sprinted the length of the field unopposed before slipping underneath the inevitable security- guard stiff- arm tackle.
Now there was a time when streakers were fun. Just like thee olde drawing- pinon- teacher’s- chair was once fun. And then I guess we move on. Post Napier the media made more, much more, of the streak than anything else about the game as a spectacle or event.
It was in fact McLean Park’s first test match in 18 years and only the second time they’d hosted the All Blacks at all. Yet it’ll be forever remembered not for the rugby but one person’s wish to tick off a bucket list.
Again, I have no problem with someone having a life wish- list, so long as theirs doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s.
In the end I suppose no- one got hurt, the young woman was apprehended, given a stern talking to and eventually released without charge.
The decision not to prosecute was particularly confusing especially given that just months earlier a man who’d pulled the same stunt at the All Blacks versus England test in Dunedin ended up in court copping a $ 500 fine.
For the major television networks to consider a streaker boasting about disrupting a rugby test to be the single most important story of the day was as embarrassing as was her nude wobbling.’
And that after being absolutely poleaxed at the time in a blindside tackle, heavily criticised for its needless and reckless heavy- handedness. Thankfully the Napier streaker crucially slipped as her chasers closed in meaning she mercifully dodged the worst of their aggressive intent.
But touching the players, however intended, is a total no- no. The field must be sacrosanct. The athletes have a right to know they’re 100 per cent safe at all times - otherwise, what’s the alternative? Spectators surrounded by huge glass fences protecting the pitch like in European football stadia? Another layer of on- field security needing to be deployed?
Ridiculous fines and/ or bans that result in a punishment way out of proportion for an action that was to all intents a lot more stupid than it ever was a serious crime?
Two of the first five home tests this year were disrupted by on- field invaders. I really hope it’s the last.
Because, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks this, the only streak involving the All Blacks worth paying any attention to is the one that says we’re now unbeaten at home in 36 consecutive tests.