Who are these boofheads running the IRB?
As all you Rugby types will already know, Les Bleus have been fined for linking arms and walking towards the Kiwis while they were doing their nuts – sorry, doing the Haka. Makes a change from the French running for cover and eating cheese. I wouldn’t have known about this, had not the Brisbane Times article caught my eye (click on the piccie to read it). You’ll find that 98% of the Aussies reading it – some 8,300 – think that they shouldn’t have been fined, and the comments indicate that it’s time New Zealand grew up and stopped enforcing unfair rules on other teams.
Ban the Haka!
Boadicea's Chariot 
But it’s a venerable Maori celebration, Mr Bear. It’s descendent of the dances performed before the previous residents of New Zealand wound up in the dinner pot.
I know the history, I know the cultural tradition and the contemporary Kiwi culture – which has taken a wrong turn with its recent abuse of the Wallabies and their fans – but I still think it’s time to cease being one-sided about it.
Even the AB’s captain doesn’t think the Frogs should have been fined (see article); he believes that it was an appropriate and respectful response.
Respectful to someone who’s threatening to cut your throat. Huh! I’d give ’em culture, with my boot between their legs! 🙂
I normally go to the bar when the haka starts and ensure that I’m well stocked for the 1st half, hope that isn’t against the rules! 🙂
The fine is ridiculous, hope New Zealand offer to pay it.
As to who is running the IRB, it’s the same in cricket, football, the Olympics and probably most other sports, in it for themselves and their fancy 1st class trips around the world and to heck with what the true supporters want.
Ah! Thought that might be the case, Soutie. Thanks for the info.
So, let me see, it’s OK for the All Blacks to intimidate opponents, but not for their opponents not to be intimidated? Right, got that.
The French should tell the IRB where to stick their fine.
Was it the same “boofheads” who banned Scottish bagpipes too?
It was! 😥
Well done the French!
I thought the fine was akshully for stepping over the half-way line rather than for merely linking arms and walking towards the Kiwis. I stand to be corrected, but either way, it seems churlish in the extreme. So there!
OZ
I see that the Brisbane Times has corrected itself – £2,500, not £10,000, is the fine, which is rather different. The article is obscure about your point OZ, but waffles about 10m separation, so you’re probably right.
It’s now 97% of 27,000 who think that the Frogs shouldn’t have been fined.
This has appeared in the Telegraph
Linkey thing
OZ
What a pathetic response. For once, the French manned up and gave a great account of themselves, although I still think the game was not one of the best. The IRB must be run by the same or similar old farts that the RFU is!
ONCE, bugrit. Real fat finger trouble today! 😦
No argument from me Bearsy. You’re all quite right. I would doubt that the kiwis asked for the matter to be raised – they are grateful when opponents step up and accept the challenge of the haka. Ironically, the head of the IRB is a Frog! (soon to be ousted I hope by a wonderful chap I have met many times, Bill Beaumont. A very selfless man who has a deep love of the game.
In slight mitigation of the IRB (not that I agree with them on several occasions), they have done well considering how few years the game has been professional. They still wipe the floor with FIFA or the IOC. Mind you, their treatment of the tier 2 and 3 teams at the WC was nothing short of disgraceful.
Bravo #5 – like they did when fined by the EU for not allowing british beef to be sold in France? They still haven’t paid!