The Silver Fern

@Victor-Meldrew said in Are you watching the death rattle of all authentic sports?:

@Crucial said in Are you watching the death rattle of all authentic sports?:

Freedom of speech still exists - anyone (in most countries) - anyone is free to say anything. What happens as a consequence is the debated point

A society where you can lose your job for legally expressing an opinion is not a society which has freedom of speech.

Sportsmen and woman who express an opinion and speak out for gay rights (rightly) aren't dropped from their teams - but those with an opposite view are.

As you say, sport reflects society.

100% agree. Least somebody on this thread gets it.

Thats a bloody worry.

@KiwiMurph said in Are you watching the death rattle of all authentic sports?:

@NightmareHitter said in Are you watching the death rattle of all authentic sports?:

@KiwiMurph

Many would say on form Falou has been the best player in the world the last two seasons. Once again subjective but if he was a kiwi he would be in the All Blacks.

Claims many wallabies will sit out if he is allowed to play on. And rumours starting to circulate that a few pacific island players will sit out the world cup to if he is not allowed to play.

1. There's a big difference between being the best player in the world and being in the All Blacks. Even if he was in the All Blacks he wouldn't even be amongst the top 2 outside backs in the team (Rieko, Ben Smith). That's a long way from arguably the best player in the world.

2. Claims and rumours do not equal "most likely".

Ben Smith cough cough cough get off the meth.

Ben smith maybe 4 years ago. Falou way ahead of Smith.

Rieko is faster not better than Falou.

Falou all time best try scorer in super rugby.

@Hooroo

But it will because you are telling people if your opinion differs from your rulers you not allowed to participate.

This is highly dangerous.

@Hooroo

Are the olympics still going well though?

Women who are men winning 100m sprint titles cant be good?

@KiwiMurph

Many would say on form Falou has been the best player in the world the last two seasons. Once again subjective but if he was a kiwi he would be in the All Blacks.

Claims many wallabies will sit out if he is allowed to play on. And rumours starting to circulate that a few pacific island players will sit out the world cup to if he is not allowed to play.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/112396660/claims-some-wallabies-will-boycott-tests-if-israel-folau-is-cleared-to-play

@Hooroo

So you are saying losing some of the best athlete talent in the world from playing in a tournament supposed to feature the worlds best players isn't a big deal?

WOW. I would of thought that would have quite a negative impact.

As far as your concerned. It doesnt matter who plays as long as they wear the jersey?

This is the death of true sports for sure.

@Hooroo

You don't give a toss that you a robbed of watching the best sports talent in the world?

You don't give a toss that you are missing out on watching the best in the sport due to politics?

Your not a fan. Not a true one.

@Hooroo

Its happening. Just look at the news everyday.

Falou is arguably the best rugby player in the world.

He won't be at the world cup likely because of his opinion,

Others will sit the tournament out to most likely.

Politics is ripping the heart out of the sport.

This is just the begining.

I feel greatly saddened and wanted to express this. Not sure others feel the same way but....

After almost 38 years of passionate (and i mean passionate) sports following of Rugby, league, cricket and boxing etc I feel we are now watching the death of true competitive sports.

• Politics has fully taken over now.

• Freedom of speech no longer exists

• Money dictates the ruling opinion

This rugby world cup potentially could have a host of world-class athletes sitting on ths sidelines and a lot of people not tuning in because of peoples beliefs. To believe in and to believe not.

The end of true sport is almost here.

Why? Because of politics.

End of the day everyone is different and everyone should be allowed freedom of speech and belief. Whether you agree with their opinions is up to you.

An atheist, a Christian, a Satanist, a Muslim, a capitalist, a socialist should all be welcome to play and all welcome to have their own opinions they can express. We dont have to agree with them.

Isn't that normal life anyhow?

Politics is using sports to enforce cultural identity. The day this was allowed was the day true sports died.

The days of the best playing the best are about to leave us. What we will be left with is an inferior product.

And not true sport.

What we are left with is what we are conditioned to be allowed to watch.

Politics should have no place in sport.

Its not about right or wrong because they are clearly subjective.

Enjoy what true fair sport you have left now because its almost over.

The last 38 years were a pleasure.

Nice write up. Well done. You missed two warriors I have heard are almost certain to get some game time at some stage this year.

Patrick Herbert - Looks very impressive at centre and the halves. Dragons tried to resign him but he returned back home. The kid can play and carve teams up. Watch out for him if one of two injuries come in.

Tom Ale - Heavily destructive second rower/prop. Built in the Jason Taumalolo mould. Kid already is shifting bodies around at the club and powering through defenders like skittles. Im not kidding when I say he literally looks like a walking fridge. Played a couple of games in jersey flegg last year and broke some record for most line breaks, tackle busts, metres made and offloads in a game. Got instantly promoted to reserve grade. Expected to become a star.

Nope not me,

FFS politics and homosexuality should keep right out of sports. I don't agree with this. Let rugby be rugby without turning it into a human right campaign for every group.

All Blacks forwards looked weak against Ireland. Read is only there on reputation and lineout ability alone because he hasn't played anywhere near amazing for at least two years and lets be honest he looks pretty awful now. While a beast at super level Liam Squire has very little impact at the international level and it seems that both Frizzel and Fafita are more athletes rather than brute talents.

Does the answer to strike fear into international forward backs lay with the two bruising talents of Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo.

Akira Ioane is easily the most talented forward in New Zealand rugby. Powerful and dynamic it is almost shaping as the biggest crime story in NZ rugby history and a black mark against Hansen that he has invested no time into him while giving the likes of Whitelock, Frizzel and Fafita extended game time. Ioane has to be there. There are no ifs or buts. I would drop Read and Squire in a heartbeat for Ioane. To not give Ioane game time at this point is disgusting when there is nobody better in the country than him.

Jackson Hemepo is BIG TIME. The guy gives no F's and hits hard, runs hard and storms around the field causing all sorts of carnage. We have to find room for him in the AB's. He has mongrel and fear factor.

Hansen has gone to far wanting to play a fast skills game that the only option left when we flat out fail is for Aaron Smiths pathetic box kicks or Beauden Barretts poke kicks. I dont want to go on but surely Aaron Smiths time in the jersey is about done and Barrett cant remain at 10 anymore.

Time to cut the dead wood?

@kirwan

Akira Ioane says hello

Steven hanse out coached last 4 games in a row. First ever All Blacks coach to lose to Ireland twice!

Hansens other major flaws exposed.

• Read not world class anymore - Akira much more dangerous
• Aaron Smith - useless, how is he still in the All Blacks?
• Beauden Barrett - terribly shit at 10, Hansen is a fool if he thinks Barrett is a 10. You pair him up with Aaron Smith and you are going to lose games for sure.
• Liam Squire exposed as not test level standard
• Ben Smith is a fullback or dropped. He is not a winger.