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'Are you proud World Rugby?': Tonga's pummelling unhealthy
By Sam Smith
The All Blacks 102-0 win over Tonga at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland has come under the spotlight as the inequalities in the global game became the talking point for fans after the massive defeat.
Missing many European players unable to get into New Zealand and through quarantine in time, the Tongan side were forced to call upon a handful of players who had yet to play any professional rugby.
The contest was always going to be a lopsided one, but now more than ever it seems that fans are fed up with the current system that weakens the talent pool available for the Pacific Island teams.
One fan took aim at Bill Beaumont and World Rugby, asking them if they are 'proud' of this result.
He wrote: "You let teams around the world pilfer the Pacific Islands best players, don't allow them to change residency and then reduce a proud nation like Tonga to a mauling."
Many fans questioned whether either nation got anything from the match, which was described as a 'massive self-aggrandisement' for New Zealand Rugby and 'horrible' for the Pacific Islands, the game, and everyone involved.
One fan detailed a potential Tongan XV based on heritage and birthright that contained a host of stars playing for other nations that illustrated how competitive Tonga could potentially be.
The side contained stars such as England's Mako and Billy Vunipola, Wallabies' Taniela Tupou and Timani, All Blacks such as Vaea Fifita, Augustine Pulu, Shannon Frizell, and Japan's Amanaki Mafi.
Malakai Fekitoa, who is in the process of switching his eligibility to Tonga, was also named alongside Charles Piutau who has also been trying to represent Tonga.
Such a quality side would likely have drawn a big crowd to Mt Smart, with last night's crowd failing to sellout to watch the All blacks play the Ikale Tahi.
Former All Black centre Fekitoa shared a message to his fellow Tongan compatriots, congratulating the All Blacks but stating they will rebuild and 'be ready' for 2023. He asked the supporters of Tongan Rugby to keep the faith.
New Zealand Rugby were in a difficult position to secure a competitive opponent for this July window, with the British & Irish Lions touring South Africa, the home nations had their resources drained.
France had scheduled to tour Australia, while Italy pulled out of coming to New Zealand. Japan had scheduled to play the Lions in Scotland and play more games in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Pacific Island teams had to wait for European players to become available, but quarantine restrictions coming into New Zealand also added extended delays for a squad to get together.
However, despite the current challenges, the systemic imbalances in the global game have long been a problem which fans are increasingly demanding change for.
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It is crystal clear that people who make such threats on line should be tried and imprisoned. Those with responsibility in social media companies who don’t facilitate this should be convicted. In real life, I have free speech to approach someone like Reinach and verbally threaten him. I am risking a conviction or a slap but I could do it. In the old days, If someone anonymously threatened someone by letter the police would ask and use evidence from the postal system. Unlike the Post, social media companies have complete instant and legal access to the content in social media. They make money from the data, billions. Yet, they turn a blind eye to terrorism, Nazi-ism and industrial levels of threats against individuals including their address and childrens schools being published online all from ananoymous accounts not real speech. They claim free speech. The fault is with the perps but also social media companies who think anonymous personas posting death threats constitutes free speech.
Go to commentsSo if this ain’t the best Irish team ever then who exactly is? I don’t remember any other Irish team being this good & winning a series in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Yes I may rip them often for 8 X QF RWC exits & twice not even making it to the QF, but they’re a damn good team who many think can only improve, including me!
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