Kiwi-cum-Aussie snapper banned
Published: 30/07/10
Source: ©The Cup is Coming Home
By Marty Braithwaite
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Although the New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive Steve Tew says that spiteful or kneejerk action will not be taken against a photographer who snapped pictures of the All Black’s game plan for Saturday night’s test match against Australia, he has been banned from any further coverage of the big match build-up.
Australian photographer Scott Barbour (born in New Zealand), was rucked out of photo contention and his agency, Getty Images, prevented from replacing him after photos were published showing scrawled stick-figure drawings of the All Black’s tactical plans for the first of the year’s TRI-nations and Bledisloe Cup matches between the All Blacks and Wallabies.
While Barbour and Getty Images have been denied access to the pre-match action, the New Zealand Rugby Union is unable to prevent them from attending the test itself at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne as it is under Australian control.
Nevertheless, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that the New Zealand union may try and prevent them from having any involvement in the second test in Christchurch.
All Black team manager Darren Shand is reported as saying that Barbour is no longer welcome at any of his team’s media opportunities, and questions have been raised about ongoing contractual relationships between the New Zealand Rugby Union and Getty, the official All Black photographers.
The potential of such a ban raises questions about the preciousness of certain team managements, particularly following the Springbok’s successful demand last week that former Australian test player and Fox Sport commentator Brendan Cannon apologise for calling South African coach Peter de Villiers a clown.
Viewed in context, and particularly against de Villiers’ own comments on referees and cheating, Cannon’s description was not unduly harsh and came during a light-hearted panel discussion in the build-up to the Springbok test against Australia.
The pity is that stifling debate and imposing sanctions on media who offer critical or sensitive opinions on teams, players and coaches can only further sanitise a game which, in many ways, has already conceded considerable grassroots support to corporate blandness.
However, Barbour’s actions belong in a different, altogether sneakier category and surely warrant no place in the game?
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