David Pocock
David Pocock’s principled stand against homophobia on the field will cost him any chance of captaining Australia again, says former Wallaby Greg Martin.
Pocock’s on-field complaints to the referee led to Waratahs forward Jacques Potgieter being fined AU$ 20 000.00 for using homophobic slurs during his side’s win over the Brumbies on Sunday.
Respected rugby commentator Martin says Pocock did the right thing in speaking out but his action will split opinion in the game.
“He’ll pay for it. It will mean that he will never captain the Wallabies again,” Martin told Brisbane’s Triple M radio on Tuesday.
“What he’s done, he hasn’t fractured the game down a Waratahs-Brumbies line… It won’t be fractured down like that, but it will be fractured upon clear-thinking, modern-thinking footballers who will support David Pocock and the more old school, hard heads who will say that was a disgrace he shouldn’t have done that.
“There are schools of thought both ways, but that will break it down the line.”
It’s the 2nd time in 6 months Pocock has taken a public stance on an issue, after he was arrested in November for chaining himself to a digger in a protest against the opening of a coal mine inside a New South Wales state forest.
Pocock captained the Wallabies under former coach Robbie Deans in 2012, before consecutive serious knee injuries blighted his career.
But Martin believed the Australian Rugby Union would no longer be comfortable with having him as national team captain.
“They have a role to play in appointing the Australian captain because he is the voice box,” Martin said.
“They’ll get worried that he will get up on his soapbox about all sorts of issues.
“Do you want that when they are not your principles?
“He’s getting his own principles out there and they are strong principles but maybe the ARU won’t want that and they will go ‘hold on, loose cannon.
“Maybe he can play and be a member but he can’t be our leader and our voice piece’.”
Meanwhile Australia’s 1st gay rugby union team, the Sydney Convicts, have invited the apologetic Potgieter to train with them and watch some of their matches in the wake of his homophobic slurs toward Brumbies players.
“We often find that people using this kind of language don’t fully understand the harmful effects it can have on those around them, particularly those struggling to accept their own sexuality,” Convicts president Robert McPherson said.
“We would welcome Jacques to come down to meet the boys and hear their stories, which is why we will invite him to join us for a few of our training sessions and to watch a few games.
“He would quickly recognise that being gay has no impact on a person’s ability to play rugby or their passion for the game.”
rugby365
Ben-die-Bul wrote:
A man of principle means someone who faithfully follows their principle or set of principles in life rather than abandoning them when convenient.
‘n Prinsipaal is ‘n hoof van n skool…. Hy mag ook soms ‘n man of principle wees maar nie noodwendig nie.
No pub night, but still a dedication for David and his band of merry men
61: ek respekteer sulke soort mense, ongelukkig net nie die principles waarvoor Pocock staan nie.
Saddam Hoessein, Hitler en Isis was/is ook almal men of principle…
64 @ Ben-die-Bul:
As ek nou moes waag om so iets te se was die hel los….dadelik sou n paar bloggers se alarms afgegaan het dat ek weer iets gese het waarmee hulle nie saamstem nie en hulle sou dadelik agter die keyboard ingespring het om my aan te vat.
Ons moet eendag n proeflopie doen…..dan noem jy hoe vuil Steyn tackle en net die klein opponente target en hoe swak QdK was tydens die WB as openings kolwer. 😆
Sal nogal geniet om die stilte dop te hou as jy dit moet noem
nortie wrote:
Jy’t gevra daarvoor
65: lyk my jy is ‘n man of principle? 😯
Ben-die-Bul wrote:
Ja, hy’s ‘n prinsipaal
Ben-die-Bul wrote:
Dis duidelik dat jy homoseksualiteit assossieer met kindermolesteerdery
Dis ‘n growwe veralgemening
Nouja, ek is ‘n man of principal… en uit prinsiep uit, gaan ek nou slaap!
Goeie nag, slaap sag!
Ben-die-Bul wrote:
Ben-die-Bul wrote:
Jys natuurlik geregtig tot daai siening maar 😯
8 @ Victoriabok:
Looks like you have completely missed the point was trying to make but more disappointing is you chosing to misrepresent what I wrote. I could go on to try and explain what I was saying but really don’t see what that would achieve.
Hey David blue-eyes, would you also’ve reacted the same way if Potgieter had (twice) said something about your mother?
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