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In this modern day of media intensity and the growing demands of television executives, many of our sporting stars have turned away from the camera.
In rugby union, the deeper you dig into an issue the more generic the answers become from players.
Gone are the days of characters like Wendell Sailor talking down his opponents before games, or Shane Warne putting players onto therapy beds through his skill with the media.
Rugby union is the worst of all four major sporting codes for generic and down-right boring responses to the media.
While most codes deal with players and coachs’ generic answers, we rugby lovers also have to deal with the Fox Sports commentary team, who dares not question one thing that happens in the game.
It would be nice for once to see the people who call our game speak their mind, even if it is completely mental and outrageous. That is why I was such a fan of the way James Horwill handled himself on Saturday night after another gut-wrenching loss to the Reds.
Clearly angered and disappointed by the TMO decision that cost the Reds the game, Horwill let fly at the TMO, and for once, a sporting player finally revealed his true emotion.
While I am not one to condone the ridiculing of refs, I believe Horwill carried himself with the highest integrity in his blowup at the TMO. He did not once question the integrity or character of the referee, rather his decision-making process. Coaches and players are subject to high scrutiny for their performances, so why not our officials?
There is this belief in the rugby circles that every time there is an interview, we must not ridicule because we may not be able to sell our great game to the audiences. But by James Horwill expressing his true feelings and emotions, what has it done to the game? It has not caused any damage to the image of rugby, in fact it’s got more people discussing the game.
Some controversy, within reason, is beneficial for a sport to grow and develop into the dining room conversation. For a struggling sport like rugby, we should praise Horwill’s reaction and courage to speak his mind, rather then ridicule what he said, and debate the points that he brought up.
He questioned Super Rugby as a whole, not just an individual referee. He believes the game is slowing down and there are too many stoppages, which we all know is right. If one of the loonies that Fox Sports calls an expert comes out and says Horwill is wrong, well then let’s debate his points and create conversation.
Get people talking about the game, instead of trying to sugarcoat its issues. No game is perfect and Super Rugby is furthest from perfection. I plead that Horwill’s act will be taken the right way by SANZAR and the ARU.
Hopefully we will be talking about the issues Horwill has with the game, debate them and see how the general public feel about his points. Horwill’s act has given the ARU and rugby in Australia an opportunity to grow, lets just wait and pray they take the right step.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.