OPINION: Accountability and Sporting Stars – Johnny Sexton’s All Blacks Critique
*Opinion Piece
Content warning: Mentions of sexual assault and abuse.
Source: Quino Al / Unsplash.
Sledging has always been an integral aspect of the sporting world. It fuels rivalries, fuels the fans and naturally it fuels the players. But what happens when the winner just won’t stop?
Recently, Johnny Sexton, former Irish captain during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, has released his eagerly anticipated book Obsessed.
Intended to strengthen the Irish legend’s legacy, it has instead led many to criticise him.
Mid-way through the book Sexton recounts last year's bout between New Zealand and Ireland in the 2023 World Cup. While Ireland were ranked first in the rugby world rankings leading up to the tournament, they were ultimately knocked out in the quarterfinals against the mighty All Blacks.
Highlighting his encounter at the end of the match with All Black star centre Rieko Ioane, Sexton claims Ioane took sledging a step too far, explaining what Ioane told him in their heated argument after the referee blew the final whistle.
“Don't miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you c**t.”
In his book, Sexton doubled down on the humiliation he claims to have endured.
“So much for the All Blacks’ famous “no dickheads” policy. So much for their humility. I walked after Ioane and called him” a fake-humble f…er.” It doesn’t look great, me having a go at one of them just after we’ve lost.”
Ireland has always been famous for their fan engagement and willingness to insult even after victory. Leading many to point out an overall hypocrisy in his comments.
One young Christchurch rugby fan Ethan Walker described Sexton's outburst with a similar argument.
“He’s an ultimate cry-baby, if he had won that game he would have cussed Ioane out with something a million times worse, he probably already had at some point in that game,” Walker said.
However, I believe in a different perspective. I believe, while his example of Ioane’s sledging was flawed, Sexton still pointed something out All Black fans refuse to admit – player accountability.
Some All Blacks show the “no dickheads” policy is not always correct. But their royal status in New Zealand means as long as they keep winning, they will eventually be forgiven.
There are perhaps more examples of bad behaviour off the field, with Aaron Smith having an affair in an airport bathroom - while sidelined for a while, Smith faced no long term consequences in the context of the rugby world.
Sevu Reece, current starting winger for the All Blacks, was intoxicated when in 2018 he pulled his partner of two years to the ground on the streets of Hamilton, causing injury to her in the process. According to a Stuff article by Phillipa Yalden, Reece was discharged without conviction and Reece was named an All Black by 2019.
According to an article by The New Zealand Herald, winger Julian Savea was charged with an assault against his partner in 2013. After a teary apology, Savea was allowed to play in a Super Rugby game the same week.
Another article by The New Zealand Herald states that in 2015 then Blues star Tevita Li dodged a drunk-driving conviction, with a blood-alcohol reading of 45 mg, far above the legal amount of 0 mg for a person of his age. The judge was cited as saying a conviction would have been “a real impediment to what so far has been a stellar career.”
The fact of the matter is our athletes are not always superheroes, they are people too and like us they should be held accountable.
While the examples mentioned above are far more drastic than Johnny Sexton’s claims of Rieko Ioane’s sledging, his comment on the “no dickheads” policy stands true.
Regardless of Sexton’s situation, the All Blacks have demonstrated an almost hypocritical inability to hold themselves to the true standard they promote themselves at.