@shadowen Said
In Australia you would get very long odds indeed. Feel free to throw away your 5 quid if you want.
It's five bob. That's shillings in old money. But I think you know that <wink> And like I said, I'll keep it to one side for now.
@shadowen Said
The outrageous treatment of Folau is driven primarily by financial considerations and a pervasive Left Wing PC agenda. It's got f^ck all to do with any so called 'moral standpoint'.
What's outrageous about it..? I must confess I'm presuming here, but I am sure the ARU has some rule about bringing the game into disrepute or similar and that would be a charge with a very broad interpretation.
In this country, such statements would DEFINITELY be considered to bring rugby - a sport that has a very high reputation for inclusiveness - into disrepute. Quite what you have to do to further damage the reputation of Australian rugby I don't know.
As for any left-wing agenda, only a right-winger would object to that. I lean to the centre-left myself, and I was a lesbian rugby player (and a lifelong fan of the game) so I have a vested interest in wanting to see all sorts of religious, anti-homosexual bigotry driven out of the game that I love.
I want to see rugby as inclusive.... open to everybody who loves the game, not exclusive only to those who support extremist right wing agendas. Something else for you and I to disagree about.
His remarks may be welcomed among religious extremists and other right wing fanatics, but in the modern age, image is important. Folau's comments tarnish the image of Australian Rugby Union in the wider sporting world.
@shadowen Said
Make no mistake, I would love to see Folau reinstated. He should never have been stood down in the first place. But I doubt he will be back this year...even if the courts rule on his side (assuming his case ends up before the courts). Unfortunately, the most likely future for Folau (playing wise) lies in Asia or Europe.
I suspect the ARU want him back and will let the courts get them out of the hole his stooopid comments have put them in. If the courts reinstate him I doubt the ARU would appeal the decision. They can claim to have made a principled stance but must obey the law. Job done.
I would love to see him back for his playing ability. He is a very fine player. That is not in question. Australia are a better team with him in it. But in my opinion he should apologise for his comments and make a public commitment to accepting diversity while representing his country, whatever his private views may be. This means not making hateful public statements condemning those of the LGBT community who are involved in the game at whatever level.
The game is called "Union" for a reason.
@shadowen Said
The policy you refer to had absolutely nothing to do with any perception of 'morality'. Furthermore, many opposed the policy and in the end a compromise was reached whereby at least a little common sense was allowed to prevail. So no "casual breezing aside of "policy" for the expediency of the RWC squad" in the first place. All the ARU did was belatedly apply a bit of common sense.
That wasn't how it looked here at the time. Australia were in a tough group with England and Wales and one of those three was going to go out in the group stage.
Did the inclusion of those players make a telling difference in the end..? Probably not. England really were dreadful last time around and deserved to not make the cut.
But it was the timing of the announcement and the way it was done that stank. You can argue that it had nothing to do with expediency, but the irony of the situation was that Australia didn't need to pad the team out with foreign based players for insurance. They could have beaten Stuart Lancaster's team with their eyes shut.
btw.... England didn't select Nick Abendanon or Steffon Armitage who were playing in France at the time. England had a similar policy to Australia, but at least we honoured it.
Abendendon and Armitage Not Selected For RWC 2015 While Playing In France