Former All Black attacks N.Z. attitude to S.A. sport

Press, 20 December 1978, Page 11

Former All Black attacks N.Z. attitude to S.A. sport

PA Blenheim “If the world stops New Zealanders going to the Olympic Games at Moscow because six rugby players want to play tn South Africa, it is perhaps time to stop playing sport,” said a former All Black, Alan Sutherland, in Blenheim recently. Mr Sutherland is the rugby coach of the Witwatersrand University team in Johannesburg, and a sales representative of a packaging company. He is in Blenheim for the Christmas holidays. He is a brother of Ivan Sutherland, a member of the New Zealand rowing eight which won a bronze medal at this year’s world rowing championships at Lake Karapiro and who aims to row at the Olympic Games.

“New Zealanders are their own worst enemies,” said Mr Sutherland. “Noone cares about sportsmen playing in South Africa except New Zealanders. Hundreds of overseas sportsmen play in South Africa all the time. “The American Cougars played a 10-match tour last year, the English club, Newport, played, and a northern English team is coming. The Dutch hockey team was there.

“Why all the hullaballoo because six New Zealanders have been invited? If players want to play rugby 12 months Of the year, that is their right. The invitation should have been passed straight on to the players. Nothing further would have been heard of the whole busi» ness. Instead, the New Zealand Rugby Union first stops them and then allows it. That is inviting trouble. “New Zealanders are still fooled by that man Richards with his meaningless cause,” Mr Sutherland said. “The only way South Africa can solve its problems is by doing so itself. It is trying to do ju . that.

“New Zealanders are trying to relate the South African black problems with Maoris. It can’t be done. Some blacks are not far removed from the kennel stage. They are 100 years behind the American negro. How can you allow

them to run the countrx ' It would be utter chaos “What would happen in New Zealand if 22 million Islanders same here” Mr Sutherland said last week that 40 overseas tennis players entered a tournament at Johannesburg. They included Onnie Parun.

“There was no fuss. There were 12 Americans among them. They come every year and spend a month in South Africa. Why don’t we have a hue and cry about that? Why only about six individual New Zealand rugby players

"It is stupid." Mr Sutherland said. "Why should we bend over backwards for Africans? Look at all the money they squander. They are the first to hold out their hands fur money in times of disaster. Look at Zambia. It runs to South Africa for its rail link.”

Mr Sutherland believes that no-one else in the world cares about New Zealanders playing rugby in South Africa, in spite of what Mr Trevor Richards says.

“What has he ever done for New Zealand?” Mr Sutherland said. "South Africa’s problem can not be solved from 6000 miles away. You have to experience it. In Soweto, for instance. 400 are injured and in hospital each weekend. They get tanked up and fight among themselves. Robbery and murder are the order of the day.

“South Africa is not a perfect country: a lot is wrong, but you have to experience the problems There is a lot wrong with New Zealand, too." Mr Sutherland said he was interested in playing in invitation matches.

"I played in their invitation matches last year. Laurie Knight, at present working in Johannesburg, is interested, too, and so are lan Stevens and a former Junior All Black, Paul Anderson.”

Mr Sutherland coaches six New Zealanders in the Witwatersrand University team. ‘‘New Zealanders have a stupid attitude to the whole thing. They are their own worst enemies and are only stirring up trouble” Mr Sutherland said.