Bob Skinstad apologises for use of “Coconut”

Published 23 April 2012 | By grootblousmile

Former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad has apologised for using a derogatory term while commentating on a Super Rugby game, according to a report on Monday.

Sport24

The Star reported that he used the word “coconut” during a game between the Sharks and New Zealand’s Chiefs on Saturday.

The word was used after Chiefs wing Lelia Masaga clashed heads with Sharks speedster Lwazi Mvovo, while attempting to go for a high ball. Both players were injured and left the field.

“Lelia Masaga has gone head high in an absolute coconut tackle straight onto Lwazi Mvovo and tried to take his head off,” he said at the time. Later Skinstad said he had misunderstood the meaning. Chief’s loose forward Scott Waldrom had tweeted: “Does the SA commentator know that the term ‘coconut tackle’ is actually a derogatory term?”

Skinstad replied: “Heard the term and thought it meant aiming for the ‘nut’ – no harm meant sorry.”

Twitter user@Broncos_NRL tweeted “coconut is a racist term to describe a pacific islander, it’s like calling a black man the N word”.

9 Responses to Bob Skinstad apologises for use of “Coconut”

  • 1

    Loosehead on 23 April 2012 at 11:01 am

    Does the preciousness of the Keeeeeeeeeweeeeeeeeeee’s know no end?

  • 2

    Just For Kicks on 23 April 2012 at 11:05 am

    Anyone following twitter, and @rugby_talk in particular, would know that this story comes from an interaction between @Broncos_NRL, @BosArthur and myself(@rugby_talk) – I defended Bob at the time, because it was so inconsequential, but Hey, story originates with us. Amazed that the newspapers picked it up!!!! Go rugby-talk!!!

  • 3

    grootblousmile on 23 April 2012 at 11:08 am

    2 @ Just For Kicks:
    Hahahahaha

  • 4

    bos_otter on 23 April 2012 at 3:10 pm

    Distort “coconut is a racist term to describe a pacific islander, it’s like calling a black man the N word”

    Agge nee flok…..ernstig?….Coconuts is seker ge-ban in NZ….want dit mag dalk n local upset..Liewe hel….kom ons stuur almal vir hulle n paar hare om te kloof. Arme goedtjies..

  • 5

    Ashley on 23 April 2012 at 3:24 pm

    bosotter @ 4
    onthou jy nog vir vi joe rocockoco?
    ek dink d bokke se naam vir hom was rum en coke-o …. dink net as hulle vir hom rum-en-coco*** gesê het …. 😆 dan was daar seker groot kakkas!!

  • 6

    Just For Kicks on 23 April 2012 at 4:01 pm

    The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, by Eric Partridge, Tom Dalzell, Terry Victor, defines “coconut tackle” as the following – ‘In rugby, a head high tackle, New Zealand’. @Broncos_NRL, put that in your pipe, and smoke it – twit.

  • 7

    bos_otter on 23 April 2012 at 4:03 pm

    @ Just For Kicks:
    Good research….please tweet it to him 🙂

  • 8

    Pietman on 23 April 2012 at 7:44 pm

    I have just watched the replay, and that WAS a coconut tackle indeed….and I am not referring to Mvovo’s hairstyle here.
    It was dangerous, same as Pat Lam’s coconut tackles on Joost and Juba in 1995.

  • 9

    superBul on 23 April 2012 at 7:57 pm

    I just read a article on IOL by Gavin Rich and it was quite good , but then like a carpet pulled from underneath me he had this to say

    “The best captain in the country, if you are looking just at leadership potential and ability to inspire those around him, is probably Luke Watson. But his Kings team is not playing Super Rugby”

    Read the whole article at
    http://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/springboks/why-meyer-wants-matfield-back-1.1281115

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