Campo, don't let the hair and boobs fool you: women are equals in sport

Georgina writes a number of great articles, much better than Spiro Zavos who has no understanding of the game. Even Greg Crowden had a severe bias and not much understanding. I do believe though playing the game gives you some insight that should not be underestimated.

Hayley and Jocelyn and Georgina - some men just don't like to be told what to think about rugby by women. Some men, like me, think about rugby from the inside. We played the game, won some, lost some. We looked for ways to win, good and bad. We had mates injured, some badly. It shaped us, made us. As fans we watch the game of men beating men. You can analyse and comment all you want, and I respect your right to do that, but don't expect every male rugby fan to cheer for you. And if we don't like it, we have our right to say so. What gets up my nose are Roarers who appoint themselves thought police and tell Campo he is wrong when he states an opinion that doesn't align with their world view. I hope Campo continues unbowed by this self righteous garbage.

Funny, when I played the guys who watched used to tell me how impressed they were by the standard of the game afterwards (one friend who came along to a game even described an incident in the game to me afterwards as "the toughest thing I've ever seen"). I've also had a lot of guys make comments about the tackling and the physicality. Presumably you haven't watched a lot of women's rugby.

Meh, if you had them you'd find that they can be handy to rest a beer on while you watch the footy ;)

Hey, some people just have a taste for trash. Who's to say why - maybe they find it amusing? I know plenty of guys that used to watch Jerry Springer for a laugh (and with the full understanding that many of the situations were, let's say, less than genuine). Judging people by what TV they watch is a bridge too far IMO!

I think there's a good precedent of a female writer covering male-dominated sport - Alison Kervin in the UK, who rose to become the editor of Rugby World magazine. Can't speak for how unbiased she was in reporting but she wrote a hell of a great book in 'Thirty Bullies - The Story of the Rugby World Cup'. She may not have played the game but she was so involved in rugby culture and development in the UK that she had experience enough to cover it. Rugby isn't just about the science behind the plays on the field, or technicalities in referee's decisions - it's also about the people in rugby who give it it's own special life. And anyone with a brain and a decent sense of perception and understanding can report on that. I would have liked to have gone into sports reporting, and as a schoolgirl interviewed the female coach of the famous Randwick Boys High School team, Karen Mould. Unfortunately that interview ended up in our school paper's cutting room floor!

Growden's background was in AFL - he turned to rugby when the SMH needed him to cover a club game in Sydney during his burgeoning journalistic career. And the rest is history... As much as I thought he went somewhat nuts in the last few years, Rugbyheaven without Grumbles seems to be very dull nowadays. Sure it's factual and all but the fizz seems somewhat gone.

I guess the main question that should be asked is - Can she write while doing the dishes ?

jeremy, I totally agree. it's sheer hypocrisy, and has no coherent argument, just a passionate noise of criticism without engaging with the real point campo was making-he wants a journo with lots of experience at this critical time for the wallabies. why not ask campo what he would call a young male journo taking growden's spot at smh? i'm sure out would not be complimentary, but probably not over the top either. this has all gone way out of proportion

Yes, but he said 'Why does the SMH get a girl to write about Rugby?' The issue isn't the word 'girl' itself, but where he used it in the sentence. Try this for an analogy if you can't understand what's wrong with it. 'Benjamin Disraeli was a Jew who became Prime Minister of England' --------this is O.K 'Why did they let a Jew become Prime Minister of England?'-------------This is not OK. Try it yourself: Italian, African-American, man, woman, Christian, Aussie. All inoffensive words, all totally inappropriate in the second sentence.

The only point you raised I disagree with is that women cant play at the highest level, may be so in Australia but NZ and England have a good track record for women playing international Rugby tests and with a high degree of skill albeit not so physical as the men.

Hey Hayley, I've never had a problem with an article of yours - I like your writing still (conversational / topical / familiar) and your choice of topics. However in this one, I call foul. In this piece you put forward that you're an aspiring sports writer / journalist, and also that you're not interested in being perceived as a sports bimbo. If your method of marketing yourself is to *not* be a sports bimbo, why is the /about/ page on game-face.net adorned with a photo of you in short shorts and a tight-fitting top...one that has been clearly photoshopped and in such a way as to present your body as the focal point? (for Roarer's reference this is the pic at the top of this article with Hayley hands on hips at a signing - the right-hand side of the torso, right arm, right thigh and calf are all tweaked with the 'liquify' tool to flatter the frame). Surely if you're seeking to establish yourself as a sportswriter in the non-bimbo camp then there might be more effective ways of presenting your professional persona? I work with a number of senior businesswomen in a difficult male-dominated industry, establishing their credibility where frequently their gender is perceived to be a weakness, in front of media and journalists who don't make a lot of time to distinguish good looks from genuine insight. I simply wouldn't be able to get you an interview based on your online profile, because as much as your work is engaging, the focus *is* entirely on the boobs & the blond hair. Call Campese out for his comments - absolutely. But don't play the victim of bimboism when the way you're presenting yourself on your own blog is right on the edge. Your work speaks for itself. You shouldn't have to adorn it. /my 2c, no doubt about to get smacked down by the Roarer community, but...c'mon. Be fair.

well thats the problem isnt it battered slav? you assume that there is a difference based on your own point of view. not based on there actually being a difference. you say he has history of being boorish, and yet didnt campo claim georgina had a history of not knowing what she was talking about? so where is the difference between your accusation and his? campo wrote the word "girl" and apparently the rest of his message is null and void!! im not fighting for campo (he can do that himself), im fighting against the hypocrisy of the huddled masses who seem not to see their own hypocrisy. play the ball not the woman you said; all the while playing the man and not the ball yourself.

Gary opinion and debate is what makes the world go around and keeps places like Roar alive!...god love it!....outsiders ( women) can often have the best view....when you are the centre of attention you have your back to half of the room!

Jocelyn, You have put forward a sensible argument on this subject and I respect your opinion. You have put forward a view without the hysterics that others seem to have when writing on this subject. I still maintain my point of view but have respect for yours put in the manner that you have done

Campo it seems your original comment was taken out of context....but while women may never play the sport of Rugby Union or AFL at a high level they can develop a great analytical ability if they have been surrouned by the game in their family from birth as in my case. Sometimes BECAUSE the female reporter/journo has NOT played the game at the highest heights their opinion can be less biased, less cavalier and less defensive than those who are ex-players. Women can often report and analyse a little more fairly from the spectators point of view and ask the questions in a presser that the punter on the street wants to hear the answer to rather than the backslapping boys club bravado that does occur at times.

Battered Slav, yes your right and its actually an issue I have with alot of journalism in aus whether it is sports or politics that journos report their own opinion or bias dressed up as fact. Whether its wayne smith, brett harris, greg growden they all write articles loaded with their own agenda's nowadays. That is not the job of a journo unless they clearly indicate its an opinion piece. Its refreshing to see someone actually do their job.

I made that poitn as well Jutsie. She is a fact reporter who describes events and occurrences. She does not provide in depth opinion or analysis, it is not her role. She has no need to have played the game to be qualified to do that. As I said, I would prefer to read opinion pieces by ex players as they provide that personal insight. Attacking GR for not having the ability to provide personal insight when it is clearly not her role is rubbish, as is most of the tripe that Campo peddles.

Simple: a penis.

Maybe another Roarer could help me here: I'm not that familiar with Greg Growden, but does he have a background in rugby that would warrant Campese's support? If he's always been a "jornio" [sic], and never a player, then by what qualification does Campese see him as someone who knows the game better than Georgina Robinson?