Whip-round to help the French pay haka fine

27 Oct 2011 05:30a.m.

Mike H wrote:

It is a silly rule and should be removed or modified at very least. There's a a whole bunch of rules, there were players fined for someone wearing 'illegal' mouth guards, the scot's weren't allowed to bring their bagpipes to the games, and fans weren't allowed to bring....car parts!!?!?!?...to the game. A player was even expelled for rightly pointing out the smaller teams were getting a rough deal. The IRB are strangling a great day out to watch a great game by wrapping it in red tape and cotton wool. Surely, of all things that shouldn't be wrapped up, rugby is at the top of the list! And while I'm on a rant, when players were fined $10000 for wearing an unapproved brand of mouthguard, the IRB decided not to fine the English team for switching the ball during a game?!?!?! Surely this is ...oh never mind. Anyway, Great tournament! Well done NZ for hosting an awesome event, for bringing the cup home and for rising above the petty wranglings of the IRB.

26 Oct 2011 06:07p.m.

SGP wrote:

Do the crime, pay the fine. EOS.

26 Oct 2011 06:03p.m.

pfraser wrote:

what a sour note! why don't 20,000 kiwis donate $1 each and then have the fine paid by buckets of $1 coins?

26 Oct 2011 03:25p.m.

Penfold wrote:

Yes the French should be fined, they knew the rule existed and chose to ignore it, it is like being asked whether you should be fined for speeding if no one was hurt while you were doing it. However should the rule be as inflexible as it is, no it needs to be changed I believe teams should be able to respond to the various Pacific Island challenges in anyway they see fit short of disrupting it.

26 Oct 2011 01:42p.m.

Judy wrote:

Mau,Bob,Micheal and Lynchie--Your sentiments are spot on.
The IRB is a group of stuffed shirts and they need a good shake up. Hopefully-those in a position to do just that will get on with it.
Why shouldn't the other teams stand up to the haka. ?? It was great!! It is rude that they are expected to stand there and just "take it" without responding.
This is not ballet or poetry reading for goodness sake.

25 Oct 2011 11:43p.m.

Mike wrote:

@T Magada, I don't think you realise, but New Zealand helped Samoa pay for their fine...

25 Oct 2011 10:18p.m.

Terence wrote:

The IRB must go they appear to be money hungry idiots of the first order.

25 Oct 2011 09:49p.m.

lynchie wrote:

if the IRB are going to carry on like this, i suggest all future teams just stand well within their own half and turn their back for the whole haka performance.

25 Oct 2011 09:45p.m.

Sas wrote:

This is bad, and its out of our control. Such a great world cup being ruined by the governing body. We should want to pay the IRB fine for France! TV3 help us raise the money...

25 Oct 2011 08:36p.m.

T Magada wrote:

All other teams that broke IRB law have been made to pay the fine, so why not the French? Yes, make them pay!! Samoa did.