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'Be proud but understand what you're being proud of' - NRL star criticises Indigenous version of Advance Australia Fair
Indigenous NRL star Latrell Mitchell has hit out after history was made at Saturday night’s Wallabies Test when the national anthem was sung in two languages for the first time in Australian sport.
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Before the Aussies’ Rugby Championship clash against Argentina, which ended in a 16-all draw, a spine-tingling rendition of Advance Australia Fair was performed both in English and in the Eora language.
Olivia Fox, a young singer from the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, belted out the stirring rendition of the anthem as many rugby fans praised the unique acknowledgement of Australia’s Indigenous people.
However, Mitchell wasn’t among them.
“When will people understand that changing it to language doesn’t change the meaning!” he posted on Instagram with a face-palm emoji.
“Be proud but understand what you’re being proud of.
“I stand for us, our mob! Be proud of the oldest living culture.
“Always was, always will be.”
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Mitchell is a proud Indigenous man and appeared in this year’s NRL marketing campaign with the Aboriginal flag draped across his back.
During last year’s State of Origin series, the NSW centre made headlines when he protested against the anthem by refusing to sing, as did Blues teammates Cody Walker, Josh Addo-Carr and Blake Ferguson.
Mitchell didn’t play in this year’s Origin series but the anthem protests from players continued.
The South Sydney fullback may not have loved the national anthem on Saturday night but plenty of others did.
The Daily Telegraph’s Jamie Pandaram posted on Twitter: “Absolutely fantastic: every Wallabies player sung the first half of the national anthem in Indigenous language. Learned the words. Paid respect. A great step forward.”
Rugby Australia reporter Christy Doran also called the spectacle “spine-tingling”.
“The finest rendition of the Australian national anthem. That was brilliant. Never felt more proud of our anthem. Well done Olivia Fox,” he posted on Twitter.
The Wallabies players had been practising the Eora version of the anthem all week, with the end result proving to be a landmark moment in Australian sporting history. #TriNations #AUSvARGhttps://t.co/s27OsY25Ne
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 6, 2020
The Wallabies’ official Twitter profile called it a “goosebumps” moment while Australian Paralympic legend Richard Coleman wrote: “That is one incredible national anthem @wallabies! As an athlete every time the Australian anthem is performed it should be done this way. I would love to win a gold medal and hear this playing loud and proud, so inspiring.”
It was reported this week the Wallabies playing group had been learning the lyrics in Eora to show the team is serious about recognising the role of First Nations people in the sport.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments