0
![Not allowed!](images/buttons/up_dis.png)
The trembles are getting worse![]()
![]()
NZRU black as jersey debate resurfaces
By JIM KAYES in Toulouse - Fairfax Media | Sunday, 30 September 2007
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4220534a10295.html
A coin toss will decide whether the All Blacks wear black should France have been confirmed this morning as their World Cup quarter-final opponent.
And with no way to stop what appears to have been a deliberate ambush of the famous black strip at this World Cup, the New Zealand Rugby Union is working to ensure it won't happen again in 2011.
France have darkened their blue jersey – some think in a deliberate move to force the All Blacks to wear their silver alternative strip if they meet in the playoffs.
But NZRU chief executive Chris Moller, who reiterated his disappointment at what appeared to be an attack on the black jersey, warned France it could backfire on them.
"I don't know why France have done it but they do risk the situation of us wining the coin toss and they play in a very non-traditional [white] jersey."
The All Blacks' jersey hit the headlines last week when they were forced to wear their alternative strip to avoid a clash with Scotland's dark blue.
However, a remodelled Scottish jersey still clashed with the All Blacks second jersey making it hard for spectators at Murrayfield and television viewers to tell the teams apart.
Moller said the NZRU was disappointed by what had happened in Edinburgh.
"It was clearly difficult for the players and the spectators, and it was obviously very bad for the broadcast audience."
Moller made it clear the clash was the IRB's fault as the All Blacks World Cup apparel was submitted to them last year and the jerseys accepted.
"We never sighted the Scotland jersey in advance of the game. We saw some drawings 24 hours ahead but beyond that we were unaware of what they would be wearing and had anticipated they'd be wearing their normal jersey.
"I don't know the motivations behind it," Moller said of Scotland shift to a blue and white jersey.
"So much is changing in professional rugby but surely we can maintain the integrity of national jerseys. To that extent we hope the IRB will act for the future."
Moller admitted the NZRU was concerned unions were able to change their traditional strip without consulting any other unions it might affect.
"It doesn't mean there can't be change, it just means there needs to be a good, logical reason for that change and not solely driven by commercial activities which perhaps may be happening to other jerseys."
Moller has already asked the IRB for a more detailed consultation process to be imposed, but the idea was rejected by the other major unions.
However, Wales have since complained after England wore a red jersey in a World Cup warmup game against the Red Dragons.
"So I've re-raised, following the Scotland game, this whole issue with the IRB," Moller said.
"I think there is probably now a greater understanding of the need to make some progress on this issue, but it won't affect this World Cup."
It means nothing can be done before the quarter final – if it is against France.
"If we win the coin toss we will wear our traditional black jersey," Moller said. "If we lose the coin toss we will have to play in the alternative silver strip. That's a fact of life with the potential clash of colours."
Moller admitted the All Blacks were worried that, if France have finished first in pool D this morning, and could play the All Blacks in the final, that they will have to wear their silver jersey in such a historic game.
"It's precisely why we wrote to the IRB back in May. We are not arrogant enough to say we will be in the final but there was always the potential."
Posted via space
Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.
"But we are arrogant enough to say that we shouldn't have to wear an alternative jersey when we are playing away from home."Originally Posted by Flamethrower
Fair dinkum, is this the Rugby Union team from New Zealand or a pack of whinging superstitious Nancy boys???
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
France is the host nation - shouldn't they get to wear their blue strip as a matter of right?
It was a right muddle at Murrayfield though - we'd (Scotland) have been better off in our white away strip, especially as our RWC home strip looks nothing like a Scotland jersey anyway!
Keeping the Faith ... right here in Perth!
You miss the point Burgs, France have darkened their traditional stripe and are now demanding a change from the ABS. Frack them hope we nail their bums to the wall in the quarter.Originally Posted by Burgs
And no this isn't a home game for the French, the match is in Cardiff, both teams are playing away from home.
What would be the Aussie reaction if England suddenly reveiled a green and gold moob outfit heading into your quarter and demanded the Wallabies change their stripe
Traditionally we change to an all white stripe against Scotland, but we have never had a colour clash with the French before. Sorry this just sounds like the bloody French being the arrogant pricks they normally are.
If the ABs are forced to change their stripe then the RWC is headed for out right farce imho.
a) Yes, it is a home game for France, it is their World Cup.
b) You probably will "nail their bums", you've had many years practicing on sheep.
c) Aussies would be pissed off but wouldn't carry on like arrogant "holier than thou" twats and actually harness it as ammunition for the match. Meanwhile the marketing arm of the ARU would be loving it as a second jersey to profit from and would change more than 50% of the jersey to avoid the farce of the Scotland match occurring.
d) You shouldn't mistake gamesmanship by the hosts for arrogance, arrogance is what the French demonstrate for the other three hundred odd days of the year &
e) it will take far more than the poor old New Zealand "All Blacks/Silvers/Grey/little bit of Whites...if your luckies" changing their strip to suit the host nation/s to see the RWC head for "out right farce"!
You can change your precious haka to a commercial joke, why not your jersey![]()
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Well glad to see the traditionals of the game mean nothing anymore. Posted it up on a kiwi board, and the call there is to go with the all white stripe with a rather large endorsement for an Irish Booking agency on it. Oh you want us to change it, sorry the only other one we have is the black one![]()
Frances tradition is to wear dark blue and they are the hosts.
Starting to sound like Eddie McGuire Jethro, certain irony you are a "Magpies" fan too
"Our away strip is white and black..."
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Shouldn't the Ab's get to wear their traditional strip because they're ranked above France in the World Cup? i.e. the AB's finished first in their pool and France finished second in theirs? - just my two cents worth![]()
yea that makes more scence skizza.
its only a shirt, the better team will still win the game. the irb or RWC organizers have said a coin toss will decide who gets to chose so they have to accept that and move on.
Frankly who cares what you are wearing? Why not make it purple or fluro pink...at least you'd know which players were yours. The colour of your jersey should have nothing to do with the way you play. If you want make a point in this game then make it on the field with the ball...not this pathetic sh*t slinging contest about who get to wear a prettier jumper....
Man the f*ck up boys...
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau."
They should just make it for all international matches that the home team gets to choose what jersey they wear. And France should not be the home team just because it is their World Cup. It should be the team that was higher in the pools. As for the pool matches, each team would have had two home and two away. Easy fix.
I love this...the whole "let's not talk about rugby" thing. It was good when the poms brought it up with the haka and drew response. Now the sheep shaggers are starting the arguments themselves. I hear loose wheels, boys, beware the cornered frog, it'll bite you in the bum, you and your little sheep too!
I hope to god France win the toss and wear the dark blue. I also hope they fart at the Haka and refuse to shake hands before the kick off. That sort of arrogance is te only indication that this will be a game of substance. The frogs will only win if they come with a bit of mongrel, if however they do bring their mongrel game, they're a good chance
C'mon the![]()
![]()