- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
It is difficult to even write this article without being overwhelmed by the emotion that Pacific Island rugby supporters are feeling at the moment.
It is the same old story. Euphoria and anticipation kicks in at the beginning of the tournament, but by the end of the pool stages Pacific Islanders (and other minnow nations) look at each other and say, ‘Oh well, we tried’.
In recent years, we have heard the voices (both sanctioned and non-sanctioned) in the margins trying to find blame, lay the blame, create blame and pursue other forms of blame, to explain the failures of the Pacific Island nations at the World Cup.
However, I am intrigued, because the battle between the haves and the have-nots has continued post-1995, where money dictates play, not the man with the whistle. In fact, being of Pacific Island heritage, I truly believed that colonialism was a thing of the past, yet despite our independence this ugly part of Pacific history is being revisited at this World Cup.
I feel for the likes of Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu because he is sounding like a broken record, and to some of the Pacific Island community he can be annoying. But it is perhaps more annoying that we find fault in someone daring to speak up.
Historically, Pacific Islanders are not afraid to speak up, although they can suffer some life-threatening consequences. In Colonial times, speaking up led to being reprimanded, sanctioned, cast away and even killed. Samoan Mau movement leader Namulauulu Lauaki was cast away to Saipan (near Guam) for speaking up against German colonial powers in 1909. Mau movement high chief Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III was shot dead by New Zealand police in Apia, while he was trying to restrain a crowd and bring peace.
It is rather sad then for us of Polynesian heritage, that the feeling of being colonised is also eminent during the World Cup.
From having one seat on the World Rugby board shared by the three ‘Pacific Powers’ to the farcical nature of the scheduling (poor Tonga and Fiji), to ridiculous suspensions being dished out for a big man running over a little man. From being scrutinised differently in contrast to tier one nations (if you’re English, it is perfectly fine to high-tackle another player, if you’re Fijian, tough luck).
Even with the common knock-on, we see the TV officials playing their part in maintaining the status quo.
Scenario one: Fijian halfback Nikola Matawalu, in the opening game, scores a try, which is awarded. TV officials spot a knock-on and replay it on the big screen much to the referee’s embarrassment. He must reverse the decision.
It was a huge let-off for England, and the Fijian momentum is stymied. Who knows? Had that crucial try been awarded, Fiji could have gone on to win the game.
Scenario two: in the lead-up to Greig Laidlaw’s match-winning try against Samoa, he knocks on at the scrum-base, but TV officials decide to replay the shot of Laidlaw planting the ball, and then move on quickly. Try still stands. Scotland wins. Game over.
What about the money? The tier two nations will get nothing. It’s like inviting a person to work for you, and then sending them off with nothing. Oh wait, we gave you an ugly-looking cap, remember?
These incidents during the current World Cup have placed Pacific Islanders in a spot of delusion, where the emotions of being colonised and oppressed are being dug up from the fanua/whenua/fonua/vanua (earth) we sought to bury in the 1960s and ’70s.
Perhaps now, one can see how this all seems a bit inhumane. It might sound radical, but hear me out.
Since the game went professional, Fiji has managed to be the sole Pacific Island nation to make it to the quarter-finals. But why is this?
The Pacific Islands rugby organisations have no doubt suffered internal corruption and administration inefficiencies throughout the years, and this has undoubtedly affected on-field performances. In saying that, rugby players and coaches have sought to punch above their weight and focus on the rugby. So with all that drama, do the Pacific Islands need any more? According to World Rugby they do.
Those colonial powers, drinking their fancy scotch and perching themselves on corporate leather chairs barking out orders.
‘Let them play three Tests in 13 days! Who cares if they don’t have the depth, we can’t let them beat Wales or England.”
‘High tackle, what team? Tonga? Suspend them! Running over a player? How dare he!
‘Jonah Lomu embarrassed us enough for all those years but he was playing for New Zealand. We can get away with this one. He terrorised Scotland in 2013, we can’t have him playing again. Give him five weeks, in case Samoa make the final.’
Is there a resolution? How long must the Pacific Islands and minnow rugby nations suffer? Why are we even called ‘minnow’ nations?
These are the questions of the colonised, which are asked in the spirit of post-colonialism. The cultural legacies of colonialism should be dispelled if World Rugby is to be a truly ‘world’ organisation.
Sadly, because World Rugby is primarily a business, the tier two nations will still be second-rate, and in maintaining the status quo, will always struggle to make it to the business end of the tournament.
The only option left is to boycott, only then will the suffering truly end for the Pacific Islands. Let the nations who have money play on, and let our Pacific Island talent be dispersed to the other football codes, such as the NRL and NFL. What a shame that would be for rugby.
For those who are not Pacific Islander, this may be a case of absurd journalism. But it would be nice if you could put yourselves in our position once in a while, wear our lavalava, our sulu, and ta’ovala, and see from the perspective of those who survived colonialism. A people who can no longer put up with flotsam and jetsam of the colonisers.
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.