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Why All Blacks' taking the moral high ground over Folau could backfire

By Ian Cameron
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All Blacks TJ Perenara has spoken – many would say admirably – about why he perceives Israel Folau’s comment around homosexuality as ‘harmful’.

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He’s the first All Black to do so, and wherever you position yourself on the issue, there’s something rather refreshing in the modern era to hear a player talk earnestly and openly about a truly controversial topic. Especially given it’s an age where players are coached to say very little at all.

It would certainly have been easier for the scrumhalf to stay stum on the matter.

“I’d like to add my voice to the conversation currently taking place. As professional rugby players, whether we like it or not, we are role models for a lot of young people. Notably, young Maori and Pasifika people,” wrote the Hurricanes scrumhalf on Twiter. “You don’t need to look far to know that young Maori/PI are overrepresented in youth suicide statistics and, as I understand it, even more so when you look to those who are part of the Rainbow community. Comments that cause further harm cannot be tolerated.

“Let it go on record that I am 100 percent against the comments that were made by Israel. It was not ok to say that. It’s not an attitude I want to see in the game I love. There is no justification for such harmful comments.

TJ Perenara tackles Israel Folau

“To anyone, young Maori/Pasifika people especially, who may be struggling with their identity – please know that it is ok to be you. You are perfect as you are. Do not let these comments keep you from being yourself. Polynesia has been sexually diverse since forever.”

There’s undoubtedly a certain amount of cognitive dissonance on the subject of religion and sexuality in Western society. The consensus appears – at least in the context of how Folau’s comments have been greeted – that holding such beliefs are permissible, but airing said beliefs in public; not so much.

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At the very least, maybe the blunt and abrupt manner in which Folau capped up ‘HELL’ spoke to a certain fire and brimstone attitude to the subject; and of course Folau could have chosen not to respond – but he didn’t. Nor has he taken a backward step on his stance.

Keeping such beliefs to yourself – be it Folau or Perenara for that matter – goes right to the core of this issue, and it could present a moral dilemma. Many have pondered how David Pocock (an advocate for gay rights) views Folau position. The last time the subject came up in late 2017, Pocock suggested that they agreed to disagree and respect each other’s beliefs on the matter.

Yet it’s probably reasonable to assume that Perenara doesn’t have to look too far with the All Blacks team to find players who might harbour views not dissimilar to Folau’s.

Sonny Bill Williams – a devout Muslim – has pointedly gone out of his way display his religiosity. The hulking centre famously taped over two Investec logos on his Blues shirt last year, successfully arguing he had a right to do so as a conscientious objector.

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“My objection to wearing clothing that markets banks, alcohol and gambling companies is central to my religious beliefs, and it is important to me to have been granted this exemption,” said Williams at the time.

While we don’t know the exact nature of his religious beliefs around homosexuality, it’s probably not an enormous leap to speculate that as a devout Muslim, his views might not be hugely dissimilar to that of Folau’s as a devout Christian.

What we can say is that he has already courted criticism for his friendship with Zimbabwean born Muslim cleric Mufti Ismail Menk.

Menk had been banned from speaking at a number of UK Universities and had at one stage described homosexuals as ‘filthy’ and suggested that they were lower than animals. The cleric has since retracted those remarks, saying they were based on a ‘misguided notion’.

In January 2017 Williams’ role as a BMW ambassador was questioned – according to Newsroom.co.nz – on the back of complaints about the player’s association with the controversial cleric. Menk – for his part – described Sonny Bill as a ‘wonderful person’ and someone who he knew at ‘close range’.

Currently, Williams is sidelined with a wrist injury and by his standards, is out of the usual full glare of the media.

Inevitably Williams will be asked for his take on Folau’s comments, and the answer he gives will be both fascinating and potentially hugely divisive.

Watch

Mils is back from Hong Kong this week and joins Scotty to talk Israel Folau, Tomás Lavanini, how the Sharks have figured out how to beat any kiwi team, and Mils the oracle gives you his winning picks for upcoming super rugby clashes.

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Jon 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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john 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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Adrian 7 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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T
Trevor 9 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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