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Goggles pioneer on Ardie Savea's new equipment: 'I'm sure there's probably a few nicknames and a bit of teasing going on but I think he's a big enough character to brush that aside.'
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Ian McKinley, the first professional rugby player to wear protective goggles, has advice for All Black Ardie Savea: get used to the insults.
Savea will wear rugby goggles in the All Blacks‘ clash against Canada – after trialling them in training this week – to avoid losing his sight further after having deteriorating vision in his left eye.
“A couple of years ago I realised I had bad vision in my left eye. Everything’s kind of blurry,” Savea explained. “I told All Blacks Doctor Tony Page that it was getting worse and now we’re doing something about it. Doc notified me that World Rugby had some goggles that were approved and everyone has been really supportive.”
The Irish-born Italian playmaker McKinley applauded Savea for the decision to don the goggles but warned that he might get a few insults as a result.
“I would imagine so,” McKinley told Radio Sport Breakfast when asked if Savea will be on the receiving end of any insults.
Continued below…
“I have a fair few and anytime you play in a game you’ve got people in the crowd that would say things to you but you just learn to get on with it as part of the game. But I’m sure there’s probably a few nicknames and a bit of teasing going on but I think he’s a big enough character to brush that aside and not look at it as an issue.
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“It is a courageous decision for Ardie I’m sure. It does take a lot of balls to do it with the slagging and all that sort of stuff but I think the people that do it are doing it for the right reasons and they know that they’re playing in safety or their performance levels will benefit from it. So I think it’s full respect for him lining up against Canada with them.”
Damian McKenzie may not be at the @RugbyWorldCup, but that doesn't mean he's not hard at work. https://t.co/aemtnRI7oQ #RWC2019 #AllBlacks @ChiefsRugby
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 2, 2019
McKinley, who has played at first-five for Italy and Pro14 side Benetton, lost vision in one eye after getting a stud in the eye during a match, which caused his retina to detach. He has worn goggles on the field as protection since 2014.
The rugby veteran admitted that there could be some initial issues for Savea as he gets used to the goggles, one of which is keeping them on.
“I personally wear a scrum cap,” McKinley said. “I suppose the goggles are likened to ski goggles so you’ve got a strap that goes round the back of your head. I would wear a scrum cap just to make sure that they stay in place.
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“I don’t know how he’s going to approach it, but from experience – I’ve been using these since 2014 – anytime I don’t wear a scrum cap they would tend to fall off. Obviously he’s going to be in the breakdown quite a lot, maybe a bit more to me considering that I’m a first-five eighth, so I would imagine he might use it (tape or a scrum cap) but I don’t know.”
McKinley says it’s just a matter of getting used to the goggles.
“Obviously when it’s a new product it takes a little time for me to get used to it. So weather conditions, with rain and that sort of thing, can be a little more tricky but you just learn through that. For many years I’ve been adapting to them. So it’s almost like wearing a gum shield or wearing a scrum cap for the first time. You get used to it.”
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
England hooker Jamie George has responded to Willi Heinz’s comments that the forwards are giving Heinz sweaty balls:
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments