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.
30mm tags
Guest
+1. Go again James Horwill. Speak the truth as you do. It's far better for the game for players, coaches etc to state how they see the way the game unfolded. Why controlling bodies need to crush the right to speak out is a blight on an intelligent community, and a blight on a game that does not need censorship to thrive.
Sandy
Guest
I wasn't trying to provide any evidence to to you Vic, I simply responded to Rouaan. Next
Vic
Guest
Unfortunately Sandy, neither you nor your silent friend Rouaan the bo'jaan have provided any evidence of his statement
Sandy
Guest
Here is an interesting article Rouaan, the du Plessis brothers have stood out as being ott. http://www.rugby-talk.com/2014/04/super-rugby-sharks-the-du-plessis-brothers-too-vocal/
hoqni
Guest
+1 To work
Zero Gain
Guest
Very true, but the haters would rather just hit James with their hate stick. Not all comments are like that and I understand why some did not like the comment, but geez, I can understand why James said it. I bet his team mates support him.
Zero Gain
Guest
Anyone who says 'you suck it up' shows their level of intelligence and the value of their comment.
Zero Gain
Guest
You are just pushing your agenda with these silly comments. What rubbish, Wil is very popular with opposition players.
Zero Gain
Guest
Most of our players have a good education and can therefore talk without the rugby league style 'I been tryin me best' .
paul craggie
Guest
I find it incredulous that so few on this thread care to discuss the state of super rugby as highlighted by Horwell's infamous, admittedly emotional tirade. His comments may not have been judicious, perhaps even hot tempered and unsportsmanlike but they were also heartfelt and hit a kernel of truth. Super Rugby is struggling as a spectacle. Penalties, scrum resets, endless penalty goal attempts, injury breaks and TMO replays are ruining Rugby as a spectacle. Yes, Horwell's rant may have been Ill advised, even to some childish but children have been known to cut through the phoney to point out the obvious. At the risk of using mixed metaphors Why is the Rugby community not big enough to recognise this most critical of points, that Super Rugby is being damaged as a spectacle by a lack of continuity, fluidity and a surfeit of stoppages.
Jonny G
Guest
You've obviously never seen an interview with the Honey Badger
Vic
Guest
Rouaan, please be good enough to provide specific examples of where and when either BdP or JdV or FvdM have shouted at the referee of any match they have played in?
In Brief
Guest
QLD got lucky with the original penalty. Rebels should never have been penalised in the first place. As a neutral, that was the stuff up. Penalising the peanut who rubbed his knuckles over Higgers eyes was a good decision.
Marty
Guest
totally agree, Neither Genia or Horwill are fit to be captains. A couple of whiny sour pusses.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Zero Gain : He reacted like anyone else in his situ; a captain under fire of a team who may end up as the table prop. The issue is he is not just club captain but also national captain and thus a more restrained reaction is required. Did u see how Steven geraad acted at the press conference in the immediate aftemath of his now infamos "slip of the cup" ? " With great power, comes great responsibility" - Voltaire
Speckem
Guest
Not IMHO opinion a torrent of abuse, but a measure of disappointment. Horwill has captained this country. Many roarers simply expect better of him. No-one doubts his passion, but shouldn't it be tempered with respect for the opposition? I personally didn't see that in his comments.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Great point Rabbitz the Reds have been sooking all year, it is all swings and roundabouts. If you are crap you lose end of story.
Firstxv
Guest
I thought Horwills press conference was soft. He has presented after each of the Reds losses and on each occasion has had his head down, almost in tears after some of the losses and just plain mumbled away about this, that and the other. Horwill is supposed to be a Captain, and Captains are supposed to be Leaders of men, and the apathy in which he communicated his feelings was disappointing. Regardless of the result, the circumstances etc the press conference is the Captains responsibility to man up, represent his team, speak confidently, clearly and in this day professionally. There is nothing wrong with showing your emotions and we all know Horwill is a wears his heart on his sleeve type of guy. But droning on almost incoherently, looking away, head down, almost pleading for sympathy of whoever will listen, is not the way a Captain should represent his team. He should have prepared himself, made his point clearly and emphatically, held his head up high, looked everyone in the eye, and when satisfied his point was made, and only then, walked off.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Stray Gator
Roar Rookie
I'm gonna wear my rugby helmet the wrong way round until justice is finally served.