All Black appals - but are we immune to it?

LYNDA FORREST

ASSAULT CHARGES: Adam Thomson was told to remove his beanie and sunglasses as he entered the dock in court yesterday. He allegedly hit Jo Holley, inset, twice.

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Where are the suits from HQ when you need them? Not at Adam Thomson's side, that's for sure. And what an embarrassing figure he has become in a week.

The All Blacks flanker was arrested last Sunday in Havelock North after allegedly assaulting his celebrity girlfriend Joanne Holley that morning.

He was charged and appeared in the Hastings District Court on Tuesday and was remanded on bail and without plea until January 29.

Now, I'm not going to rush to judgment on the guy around the charges. If the Tony Veitch drama has taught us anything it has been the reminder that there is a presumption of innocence in New Zealand law.

You are innocent until proven guilty and Thomson deserves not to be judged around the alleged assault until he has had his day in court.

But, regardless of how his case plays out in court, Thomson has already played the embarrassing role of the prototypical rugby playing Neanderthal that the great modern-day philosopher Mr Maurice Deaker refers to a "boofhead".

When he showed up in court he was wearing shorts and a sweatshirt. As he readied himself to face the judge he had to be told to remove his beanie and sunglasses.

It showed a complete lack of respect to the court the type of juvenile staunchness that is seen in courtrooms up and down the country on a daily basis.

Thomson embarrassed himself, Otago, the Highlanders and the All Blacks on Tuesday.

There was nothing professional about him and he did untold damage to the mana of all of the teams he represents.

Thomson is 26. He's not a kid. He should have put on a suit and tie, held his head up, looked the judge in the eye and be respectful.

I can't help wondering how it is no one from the NZRU or anyone from his own management team were alongside him walking him through his court appearance taking care of the hiring of the suit, buying him a razor and offering him some advice on how to conduct himself once he was in the dock.

What is perhaps more worrying for the NZRU more worrying than one of their stars dragging the All Blacks brand through the mud again is that less and less people are (a) shocked or (b) care that yet another All Black is back in court.

Interestingly neither TVNZ or TV3 thought Thomson's court appearance rated in their top-three stories on their Tuesday evening bulletins. No doubt the communications department at HQ would be thrilled Thomson didn't lead the news.

But clearly it is a sign that an All Black getting into trouble these days isn't the story it used to be because it happens so often.

The drunken escapades of men like Doug Howlett, Troy Flavell, Jerome Kaino and Mils Muliana, assault charges against Sione Lauaki and Jimmy Cowan, the seal-shooting incident involving Andrew Hore and violence against women from Sitiveni Sivivatu, Tana Umaga, an unnamed All Black and now allegedly Thomson, has made the public immune to it all.

Outrage has been replaced by a shrug of the shoulders.

The NZRU should be worried about it.

But judging by the performance Thomson was allowed to put on in Hastings, perhaps they're over it too. I wonder if we will ever hear Graham Henry reciting one of his favourite headmasterish lines "Better people make better All Blacks..."

Happy New Year!

- © Fairfax NZ News

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Padi in Oz   #1   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Richard - I completely agree with the majority of your write-up. Where was his respect and where were his managers? It requires leadership here - which is too often lacking within our sports (Mr Henry's IRB award is proof we have some leaders). However I believe the Mantra - Better People make Better All Blacks - is a wonderful one. It sets the bar up high - Please dont belittle it again.

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