One year on: Losi Filipo’s chance at redemption isn’t just for him
2016 was a shocker for New Zealand rugby off the field. A run of player scandals saw the game’s image take a battering, but Jamie Wall watched one of them make an inauspicious appearance in the Mitre 10 Cup last night.
It was a wet, greasy game last night at the grandly named Rotorua International Stadium. The weather and the prospect of watching Bay of Plenty cop a foreseeable hiding at the hands of a strong Wellington team probably kept many local fans away, as well as the fact that the game was on a Thursday night.
The home side duly lived up to the low expectations, going down 31-10. Aside from a couple of nice tries by the visitors, including one to human highlight reel Asafo Aumua, there’s not much about this game that will stick in the memory – especially since a lot of people would have been watching the much more closely fought NZ election debate going on at the same time on another channel.
However, there was one milestone that is somewhat noteworthy. In the 65th minute, under the glow of an electronic scoreboard held up by an assistant official, Losi Filipo made his Mitre 10 Cup debut. It was almost exactly a year after he most likely would have, had it not been for probably the biggest NZ rugby story of 2016.
Filipo had been found guilty of assaulting four people on a night out in Wellington the previous October, however the judge discharged him without conviction. Details soon emerged of the severity of the incident, with the media and public fixated on the fact that Filipo had stomped on one of the victim’s heads.
The Chiefs stripper scandal, Aaron Smith’s trip to the loo and Filipo’s court hearing all happened in rapid succession, meaning that PR disasters were happening at All Black, Super Rugby and provincial level all in quick succession.
Rugby’s image was at a seriously low ebb; I made my feelings known the night the press release about the Filipo case came out from the Wellington Rugby Football Union, mainly because it involved the team I grew up supporting. I couldn’t believe they’d got it so wrong.
In hindsight, I feel like what I said was harsh. The WRFU couldn’t possibly have known the absolutely hysterical, over the top reaction from large swathes of the public on social media. This fire of irrationality was fanned by some sensationalist and exceptionally questionable media coverage, hell bent on demonising a guy seemingly getting away with a heinous crime.
Very little was made of the fact that the decision to discharge without conviction was made by an experienced judge. Or the fact that discharges are relatively commonplace in cases where the offender has no prior convictions.
In fact, the word hysterical didn’t even begin to describe it. Posts calling for the death penalty. Jersey burnings, an act usually reserved for outraged American sports fans when a player takes a better deal on another team. But while that’s a sad joke, Wellington fans immolating a $150 garment was just sad.
If anything, the episode showed us just how little the general public knows about how the justice system works. Or how quick they are to forget all logic and reason when dealing with a seemingly convenient embodiment of a mostly imaginary criminal problem.
But it was done with. The offseason came and went, Super Rugby started again and rugby shook off its year from hell. NZ Rugby appointed their first ever female board member to help ease over the fissures in relations that the Chiefs had opened up with their little party, and then a huge run of action on the field made most people forget about everything else that had happened.
June’s British & Irish Lions tour swept through the country and brought thousands of big-spending Brits with it. The Chiefs were knocked out of Super Rugby at the same stage for the second year running, but avoided the previous year’s disgrace even getting a rerun in the media. The Crusaders went on to win the tournament, bringing the trophy back to Christchurch for the first time since the earthquakes.
The All Blacks went on to have two memorable victories in recent weeks over the Wallabies, with the last game having a strong claim for one of the best ever. Then, to top it all off, the Black Ferns became the feel-good story of the year by winning the World Cup the next morning.
Rugby’s on a roll. Even a rehash of the Aaron Smith debacle ended up being blamed on the dirty tactics of a desperate Aussie media, and if nothing else a good chance to examine the state of education in this country – given that the biggest talking point was Smith’s inability to string a sentence together without making a baffling spelling mistake.
These days, only about half a dozen people nationwide still have a passionate interest in provincial rugby, which is why last night was the perfect time for Losi Filipo to make his debut. He was literally the last player listed on Wellington’s team sheet, in a game that no one would notice.
His name was barely mentioned. Sky TV’s team of Willie Lose, Mel Robinson and Bull Allen are so low on their commentary depth chart that I’m inclined to believe they honestly didn’t make the connection when Filipo came on. In a twist of irony, the only time he influenced play was collaring a BOP player with a needless head-high tackle.
Then, that was it. The one player who had people bashing their keyboards and burning their jerseys had got on the field. The WRFU, who’d said they’d stick by him and aid his rehabilitation, have proven that they were completely committed to that.
On Wednesday I’d put in a request to interview Losi Filipo, knowing full well what the response would be – a very polite ‘absolutely not’ from the WRFU media manager. Which I completely accept. It’s been a year now, it’s gone through the courts and the avoidance of the issue that fired me up so much back then has an awful lot more validity now.
A lot has changed in that year. It at least seems like rugby has learned from the harsh lessons of 2016. Last night wasn’t just day one of the Losi Filipo redemption story, it was about healing the wounds that only an institution like rugby in New Zealand has the power to inflict on itself.
Comments on RugbyPass
I wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to comments