Anyone for a pina colada?
This week we will mostly be concerning ourselves with slips of the tongue, comeback kings, naughty boys, fan issues and shopping lists...
The knives are being sharpened for Bob Skinstad after he let slip a racial term during his commentary of the Sharks-Chiefs game on Saturday.
"Lelia Masaga has gone head high in an absolute coconut tackle straight onto Lwazi Mvovo and tried to take his head off," he said.
For those who don't know, 'coconut' is a derogatory terms used in Oceania to refer to Pacific Islanders. It's not a good thing to say at all and especially not in the context it was used in, with both SA commentators seemingly outraged at Masaga's tackle.
But as ever, it's what has come after that makes for the most interesting reading. Skinstad said on Twitter: "Heard the term and thought it meant aiming for the 'nut' - no harm meant sorry."
Erm? Ok so 'nut' means 'head'... so from somewhere in the morass of tortured metaphors that constitutes the average Skinstad commentary we should presume there's a context he knows of where the prefix 'coco' means 'aiming for'?
We're not buying it. It was used in exasperation and anger (and we know he's a passionate and excitable chap), while Skinstad has been to New Zealand enough times to have picked up a few of the colloquialisms. Even people who haven't been there know what coconut means.
It will be interesting to see what happens from here. The SA broadcaster Supersport has not issued an apology yet, while Skinstad's lame attempt at eschewing himself from responsibility is truly an insult to intelligence.
SA presenter Darren Scott was sacked - subsequently he was virtually hounded out of the country - for using a racist term in a fallout with someone who owed him money. Will Skinstad be afforded similar disciplinary treatment?
Staying in SA, is Victor Matfield really going to make a comeback? He who wrote a column back in December on how he was enjoying not pushing his immense frame to the limit in pre-season and who has spent many an hour reaping in some very decent coin wearing his tailored threads on the sidelines for Supersport?
It is, of course, possible. But this is a comeback comparable to that of Lawrence Dallaglio's back in 2005/6: not one that is well-advised for the country and not one by any stretch guaranteed to end in glory.
Most of all, it begs the question: why bother? Heyneke Meyer has four years to mould a decent pair of locks together and fill the Bakkies/Victor gap and he's not exactly short of options in the rainbow nation.
It is said that Meyer's call is based on the need for leadership, but that doesn't follow either, not when you have a number of recent examples - Sam Warburton and Richie McCaw are two - where a coach has successfully identified a long-term leader in the squad to set the tone for the next four or eight years.
South Africa's team has spent a long time trying to re-bear itself from the continued choice of experience over potential, a choice which involved using players long past their sell-by date to the obvious and occasionally vocal frustration of those not being let in. More of the same from Meyer is not a good way forward.
Also not a good way forward is being nailed for doping when you are barely out of nappies, which happened to England schoolboy and Harlequin youngster Jonny Spelman last week.
Spelman was found guilty - he admitted it - of using testosterone, drostanolone (both anabolic steroids), growth hormone (GHRP6), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), clomid (clomiphene) and nolvadex (tamoxifen) for three months in 2011.
Hopefully that's a lesson learned for Spelman - whose mother is a Cabinet MP and tried desperately to stop the news leaking out as well as financing a good deal of expensive legal representation.
But let it be a wider lesson learned to schoolboys who have their dreams: once tainted with that stigma, it is very difficult to bounce back and be taken seriously.
What's going on with fans at the moment? We've got Edinburgh fans abusing Yoann Maestri until he cracks and lashes out, Bulls fans throwing bottles at players' heads (and he wasn't even banned from Loftus), serial booing of kicks and kickers everywhere... is this rugby?
It's hardly surprising that when Premier Rugby announced last week that tickets for the London Double Header would be sold in four blocks according to team, fans thought they were being segregated à la soccer (in fact it was just a breathtakingly simple logistical solution), but when you consider what goes on at some rugby grounds at the moment, could you really have blamed Premier Rugby if it had been segregation?
Where does the problem start? Who knows... money is clearly at the heart of it. But you hear stories of music being played over the tannoys to distract kickers, of club administrators boasting that it is their responsibility to do everything in their power to make sure the opposition fails... an IRB campaign to highlight the values of sportsmanship rugby used to adhere to is becoming overdue at the top level.
That includes issues of stealing staff. The dust kicked up by Bryan Redpath's speedy exit from Gloucester needs to settle before he takes up the role he has so obviously been courted for by Sale otherwise there will be a long-lasting bad feeling between the two.
Obviously? This is Steve Diamond attempting to deny Sale's approach: "If he is available, we are going to speak with him. Now he is available, he is on our shopping list."
So here we go... Redpath is linked with Sale. He denies it, but rumours continue. Just before Gloucester play Sale, Redpath resigns suddenly. Now he's on Sale's shopping list. You do the maths.
Finally, if you're up for a bit of Sevens action but can't afford the air fares to Hong Kong and such, why not get down to Oxford on May 26?
The RAF Spitfires Rugby Sevens Team is hosting a one-day invitational tournament featuring a dozen international and UK-based rugby teams, with proceeds distributed to three RAF chosen charities.
The impressive lineup will feature the RAF Spitfires, international sides such as Wales, Afghanistan, UWIC and Indian Side Rugby Uncle, as well as both Varsity Sevens sides. Leicester Tigers and Saracens are also to confirm their places.
All proceeds from the day's events will be donated between Khelo Rugby, which enriches children's lives through the playing and coaching of rugby in Kolkata, India, the RAF ExPOW Association, and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
Not sold yet? Strange... ok how about some free tickets? Simply send the answer to the question below to competitions.planetrugby@teamtalkmedia.com . Don't forget to include a contact number so we can get hold of you! (We promise not to give it to anyone else.)
Question: Who are the current IRB World Sevens Series champions?
Loose Pass compiled by Richard Anderson
Comments
new_j4a says...
testing, testing 1 2 3 4
Posted 14:10 01st May 2012
new_j4a says...
@APV1, I hadn't noticed that all my posts had gone too.....now that is interesting...that makes me think that someone has managed to hack into PR....perhaps someone who didn't see eye to eye? Apparently I am not the only one affected....according to PR Ed this morning
Posted 13:17 01st May 2012
APV1 says...
@ new_j4a - all of your posts have gone too. I was so upset, my counsellor had to book me extra sessions.
Good to know someone misses you though!
;-)
Posted 10:59 01st May 2012
new_j4a says...
@APV1,
Am still avidly viewing all comments, but for reasons as yet unknown, my old username no longer works...I have an email out to PR Ed to see if it's a technical glitch or editorial policy (Can't be...I have been so restrained) Either way, I will be back...:)
Posted 10:10 01st May 2012
APV1 says...
@ Editor - what have you done with justice_4_all? He hasn't been transported to Van Diemen's Land for "Posts unbecoming a rugby fan", has he?
Posted 15:42 30th April 2012
APV1 says...
@ Sasquatch - please do. Just remember that I am never wrong and we'll be fine.
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
Anyone see any rugby this weekend..?
Posted 10:04 30th April 2012
Ramage says...
Stellenbosched no way do I loathe you as I dont consider you to be one of those idiots.What's wrong with disagreeing as your views will help me strengthen mine or possibly admit I am wrong some times.. (Maniacally grinning as I say it.) So do not worry it is good to be challenged.
Posted 09:41 30th April 2012
Ramage says...
@Stellenbosched Im sorry you haven.t seen my comments about the NZ idiots who post on here but then I may be considered one of those and its very hard to argue with one's self. Ka kite.
Posted 05:43 29th April 2012
Sasquatch says...
sorry ed
Posted 22:06 28th April 2012
Sasquatch says...
@AVP1:
You say: "I am still confounded by your lack of understanding of other peoples' views. No-one's asking you to agree with them, just to accept that they are equally valid and should be considered, especially by broadcasters. "
I am going to post this quote of yours every time you post anything, just to remind you of the extent of your hypocrisy.
Posted 19:44 28th April 2012
Sasquatch says...
@Ramage;
I've travelled to New Zealand on 2 occassions, once on a rugby tour and the other on a supporters tour. We had a fantastic time on both occassions (except watching the Boks get a hiding in Auckland). I found Kiwi's to be friendly, affable and hospitable people and I would jump at the chance to visit again, and I guarantee you other Bok supporters would love to see a country which I consider to be one of the most beautifull in the world. I think Bok Avenger was just being his usual "antagonistic'' self, though in fairness, the whole lot of us love to have a go at each other, and I agree that you are as much a culprit when it comes to putting Saffa's through the wringer . No harm done.
My question regarding the "Coconut Cohort" t-shirt was genuine rather than snide as suggested. I really don't understand how that can be allowed. If I were to start a rugby site in SA and sell tees that say "K***** Clan"(black), "D****** Drom" (white afrikaans), "S***** Sect"(white english) or "C****** Club"(Indian), I would most likely end up having to explain myself to a judge in the Constitutional Court while being tried for hate speech.
"I don't understand why people such as you two can't accept that the word in question is offensive when used to a person of Island descent in NZ". That's absolute bull bro. Whether or not I "accept" this has got nothing to do with the debate (and I don't speak for BokAvenger here). If you say it's offensive then fine, but don't compare it to a t-shirt of a "sexual nature", bad analogy.
I reckon there are far more similarities than differences between our cultures, that's why I'm trying to understand why these guys can do this if it is offensive.
The editor says.... Guys, please stick to rugby and leave the political debates for the forum
Posted 19:42 28th April 2012
Ramage says...
@Stellenbosched You know very well that in NZ, a democratic society there is one man one vote. My vote is equal to any Maori as is his to mine. We each have two votes under our MMP proportional system one for our local MP and one for the party of our choice. If a Maori elects to go on the Maori roll he has the same rights as me. Just as he does if he wishes to enrol in a general seat. So despite what you may be thinking there is no apartheid system in NZ. If you think there is you are wrong. It is interesting that you had to go back into our colonial past when the laws were enacted by Britain and the colonists as we were a colony and did not have our own Independence during the time you refer to. If you wish to go back that far forgive me if I mention the word Apartheid to you. Thank God for sane people like Mandela and de Klerk.
I am not going to let you away with your statement that my articles are anti South African. I have not attacked your country. I do not call your referees cheats and corrupt and neither do I say that Bloemfontein or Port Elizabeth are some suburb of Hobart in another country. It seems that a few idiot South African posters on this site can say the most outrageous things about my country, its people its players and its referees but if I dare to point out the idiocy of their statements I am attacking all South Africans. Sorry man you have got it all wrong I have no gripe against South Africa its many races who make up your country or its referees and players. I ask you to go back and read what I have written. Most of my posts which you take offence to are aimed at that small minority on here who seem to find it ok to attack and say those outrageous things about NZ and its people. I reserve the right to challenge those people and that does not make me hate South Africans. Do you support the views of BokAvenger and his ilk? Do you? I don't.
The editor says.... All right lads....back to rugby please.
Posted 18:46 28th April 2012
Ramage says...
@ Stellenboched This post you have made is not worth responding to as all I wish to say is your questions show little knowledge of the NZ electoral system and as they say a little learning is a dangerous thing. Please do some more research and don't go back so far into history which we have righted just as you have got rid of the evil apartheid system. Fair comment
Posted 14:40 28th April 2012
Ramage says...
@Bokavenger your reply to my post says it all. You just cant help yourself and love to insult NZ. You may think in your narrow mind and see in your tunneled vision eyes that NZ is some kind of backwater. That's cool you are entitled to that opinion but it just shows once again how ignorant you and your posts are. I know better and I'm proud of the achievements of our democratic society with the way it has led in many ways with its legislation to promote racial harmony. I can't help it if you are ignorant and lack the educational nous and think NZ is an outer suburb of Hobart. To claim most Saffas think this, insults the geographical knowledge of your countrymen, infers your education system is somewhat lacking and brings them down to the woeful level of knowledge you show in your posts. I have read enough inane and hateful posts from you now to know you don't speak for the majority of Saffas because if you do God help your country.
Posted 12:52 28th April 2012
BokAvenger says...
@Ruckingkiwi- that the best you can do mate? I'll give you a few weeks then to think of something more intelligent
Posted 11:29 28th April 2012
7ton says...
bokavenger.
I doubt whether many South Africans would agree with you speaking on their behalf especially with bad lack of knowledge on geography.
Posted 07:24 28th April 2012
BokAvenger says...
@Ramage: The reason we're making such a song and dance about it is because prior to Coconutgate, none of us had any idea that uttering the name of a tropical fruit equaled racism in NZ. I understand now that in NZ the word has negative and hurtful connotations but seriously mate, most Saffa's think NZ is a suburb on the outskirts of Hobart so we're somewhat dumbfounded as to why you think it's incumbent upon us to familiarize ourselves with your racist terminology.
Posted 16:23 27th April 2012
APV1 says...
@ BokAvenger and Sasquatch - I am still confounded by your lack of understanding of other peoples' views. No-one's asking you to agree with them, just to accept that they are equally valid and should be considered, especially by broadcasters.
And using inflamatory and insulting t-shirts to support your argument is daft. I've seen people wearing t-shirts with slogans and images which many would find offensive. In my mis-spent youth, I wore them too. But (I hope!) I've matured since then. And that's why people wear them - to get a reaction. I have no doubt that I could conduct an internet search and find many sites, from all over the world, which sell t-shirts with slogans and / or images intended to shock by being offensive or "edgy". It only took me a brief moment to find this horrific apparel on sale here in the UK:
http://tiny.cc/2sifdw
;-)
I think, once again, the wiser and more elloquent poster, Ramage, has summed it up quite well. Thank you.
Posted 16:21 27th April 2012
Sasquatch says...
@ Bok Avenger:
I don't think you'll be hearing much more of ol "make it a double" during test matches. Mat Pearce seems to be the new incumbent. As regards the whole "Coconut" debacle; did you look at the other tees on arcrugby? I had to google the meaning of Jaffa; according to Wikipedia:
Jafa is a slang term (usually pejorative) for a resident of Auckland, New Zealand.[1] It is the acronym for Just Another F****** Aucklander or used as an insult to Aucklanders. This prejudice against Aucklanders started to appear within the last four decades,[citation needed] and is considered to be representative of the boorishness of Aucklanders, or the envy of the rest of New Zealand, depending on the perspective. The term is also misspelled as Jaffa, a chocolate confection from Dunedin, and is often used in sentences which render the original term useless in the grammatical sense. The term has wider currency than the earlier derogatory term "Rangitoto Yank"[2] A variant is Jaffa for Just Another ****wit From Auckland.
another defintion from urbandictionary.com:
jaffa
(n.) An impotent person (male or female) who cannot have children. In the male, this usually produces watery, or no seminal fluid.
"I hear he's a jaffa "
Someone tell Bob never to say "Jaffa" or "Rangitoto Yank" on air or he's gonna be in a whole lotta troubl' again. "That was a real Jaffa scrum from the Blues"...
Posted 14:41 27th April 2012
Ramage says...
@ sasquatch and Bokavenger Ridicule and humour is something that abounds in NZ and at times goes over the top and is not in good taste and also offensive. However there are many T shirts that appear in NZ that breach what most people would say are in good taste, usually of a sexual nature. I'm sure you have seen them in South Africa as well. Ones that I grin at when seeing them but would never wear .Others want them banned.
NZ has people who feel that much of what we are talking about is politically correct bull mainly because they have never been a member of a minority and felt the digs or barbs aimed at their race. I don't understand why people such as you two can't accept that the word in question is offensive when used to a person of Island descent in NZ . The fact you have to go about trawling out T shirts to prove your point is somewhat pathetic. I have accepted that the said word is not considered so in South Africa. So guys just accept what we have said that it is, in NZ.
The last time I looked NZ was a democratic country and has a good record in this field including the fact it was the first country in the world to grant the vote to women. I know your hatred of all things NZ, as shown in your posts, stops you taking off the blinkers.Your put downs go on and on but no amount of small petty minded insults stop me being a proud NZer. We have a wonderful free country, one that punches above it weight. It has enacted much legislation to counter racism. We are not standing on any moral high ground but only pointing out to you how that word is offensive. We too have our racists and we have to work as hard as any country to see they do not prosper. So stop your snide remarks they do you no good and only make you look like bigots. As I said in an earlier post I'm sure Skinstad as a public broadcaster will never use such a word again in his broadcasts.
Posted 13:57 27th April 2012