http://xtramsn.co.nz/rugby/0,,12448-4831389,00.html
Oh no! Not another World Cup disaster as the hosting rights decision for the 2011 tournament looms. Jonah Lomu inadvertently finds himself in the middle of a battle between contenders New Zealand and Japan after he reportedly supported the Asian bid. He says he's been misquoted but was he being disloyal even talking up New Zealand's opponents? XtraMSN Rugby writers Duncan Johnstone and Marc Hinton debate the question.
And to help you choose, here are the words from the South China Morning Post.
"If the World Cup came to Japan, it is going to grow the global game. Everyone always talks about the best things in terms of growing the game and in this regard I think it is time for the World Cup to come to Japan and Asia," Lomu reportedly told the newspaper.
"If Japan wins it, rugby will just get bigger. The game is going to be more accessible to everyone and more open to Asia. A World Cup in Japan will show that rugby is truly a global game."
So, is Jonah being disloyal?
YES - Duncan Johnstone
Misquoted or misconstrued, it doesn't look good for Jonah in the bigger picture.
He's been quick to counter the Asian offensive that has used his huge profile to bolster their chances of hosting the 2011 World Cup in Japan. And well he might.
Jonah has long trumpeted his huge loyalty to New Zealand rugby and, particularly the All Blacks. It's been the basis of him staying here when he could have earned far more offshore and it's been the major force behind his remarkable drive to return from his severe medical condition.
So it's strange to hear Lomu talking up Japan's chances at the expense of New Zealand.
At a time when the New Zealand bosses are heading overseas on a mission to convince the voters that the cup should return to these shores for the first time since 1987, this was the last sort of thing they wanted to hear coming from one of their own, particularly someone of Lomu's stature. He is, after all, Mr World Cup following his exploits in 1995 and 1999.
Forget the ifs and buts, the claim and counter claim by the Hong Kong newspaper and Lomu. True or not, the damage has been done.
Now it's a test of character for the NZRU to see who is bigger and who has more influence - them or Jonah Lomu.
Lomu is widely regarded as the highest profiled rugby player in the world. And that still stands despite his two year absence from first class rugby. Asia will have delighted in reading his "thoughts".
Jock Hobbs and Chris Moller have plenty of time to make their points in crucial areas of the rugby world over the next month and hopefully these are the views that will count most, rather than the questioned words in print in Hong Kong.
I've no doubt that the idea of rugby spreading into a new and lucrative market like Asia is probably favoured by many rugby folk around the globe and even some in the land of the long white cloud.
But it shouldn't be uttered - in jest or good faith - by anyone with New Zealand allegiances at this delicate time.
We stuffed up the last World Cup. Let's hope we don't do it again.
NO - Marc Hinton
Hang on a minute here. Has the world gone crazy? Man not allowed an opinion? This isn't China, last I looked.
If Jonah is guilty of anything here, it's being naive, and possibly looking to kiss up to his audience. Hardly hanging offences.
Here was the great man being interviewed in Hong Kong on Japan's prospects of hosting the 2011 World Cup. What's he gonna say? You've got no chance - forget about it and get back to your sushi. Please.
All the big fella did was tell them what they wanted to hear, namely that it would be a great thing if the World Cup was awarded to Japan and that it certainly would be a major boost for taking rugby to a more international audience.
Cast aside your blinkers people, and you'll realise he's right. Sure, we'd love it in New Zealand. Heck, we probably deserve it, apart from the minor fact of our tiny stadiums, lack of appropriate accommodation and unfortunate time zone. This is, after all, one of only two significant countries in the world where rugby could be said to be the national game.
But Asia has never held the Rugby World Cup, it's got incredible facilities and runs on the board via a little event that soccer has every four years. Plus, as Jonah points out, Asia is a not insignificant part of the world where the oval ball code could really make some inroads. Also, there's a dollar or two floating round.
Anyway, back to Jonah's comments. Nowhere has he said New Zealand doesn't have a decent bid, nor that he doesn't think his own country deserves to host the global event.
In fact, he prefaced both his key comments with Rudyard Kipling's "if" which, as we know, is a small word with a big meaning.
He said "if" the Cup goes to Japan it will grow the global game and he then referred to people talking about the need to do just that. If that's what they're after, noted Jonah, it's time to give it to Japan. Hard to argue with that.
He then goes on to say that a World Cup in Japan would make rugby "bigger" in Asia. Hardly rocket science. And hardly inflammatory.
And lastly, what loyalty does Jonah owe to the NZRU, other than that which any New Zealander might? They've hardly been in a rush to get in behind him through his troubles, despite his continued status as an icon of the game.
Heck, they should have made him an ambassador for the bid in the first place (now there's a thought!). Then this whole issue wouldn't have even arisen.
Jonah has since clarified his support for New Zealand and mumbled something about being misquoted. For that you can usually read that someone regrets something they said in the cold light of day. He needn't.
