1. Rugby is growing and the likes of Jones, Rattue etc may be seeding poison among newer fans.
2. The hacks know they talk offensive crap but still spout it
3. Some supporters might pick up on this; it spreads to the terraces and results in some crowd violence.
4. Jones, et al will then be able to say "I told you so"

(I'm using "Jones" as a metaphor for the worst excesses of journalism. It's not confined to the NH but does seem to thrive there)

(4) troubles me as it is not an unlikely scenario. Sure, there have been some appalling tours where the allegedly "true rugby supporters" have spat bile at other teams - the '71/72 tour to the UK, the '77 Lions in NZ etc, and if you read some of the books of those tours it was pretty bad. So it isn't new and generally people have pulled their heads in after a while. But is the current context (or scene) different?

We have a whole influx of newer fans that may, or may not, understand the difference between banter and giving an opponent some serious flak. Winning has become a source of national machismo in some countries. There is more negative stereotyping than before and global access to media allows any hack to stir things up – what may me an innocent comment in a NZ context can be an insult in another. Add in the usual copious amounts of alcohol and you might just have a heady brew ready to explode.

So, the question is: What to do to remove the poison?

To me, it has to come from the supporters, the players and management.

Management has to learn to keep its trap shut and behave with dignity. I'm sick and tired of the likes of O'Neil, Woodward, Jones & O'Sullivan spouting nationalistic bullshit. Enough is enough. Shut the fuck up. The IRB should set up a soccer style "disrepute" code and police it. Perhaps just threatening to do it might have the desired effect.

The TV clip of Graham Henry congratulating the French team in their dressing room should be required viewing (whatever you say about Henry, the boy has class to burn).  LaPorte's psychological games with NZ were fine as no disrespect or sniping was on view. I liked his style – he was gracious in victory.

The players generally behave impeccably - but need to be more forthright in protecting the "honour of the game" (yeah, I hate that phrase too, but can't top it). The Irish team clapping off the Georgians was outstanding as was Jerry congratulating every Portuguese player he could find. And we all love the way the Frogs understand the Haka. It comes as natural but the players need to remind the world, and newer supporters, why it is done and why it is important.

We can learn something from England here where a couple of seasons ago, some players in the lower divisions started back-chatting and criticising the ref. The more senior players, like Dayglo, stamped on it by example. Big ups to Brian Moore as well for his reasoned and sane TV comments on the Haka.

The supporters - Do they have the biggest role to play?  From not booing the opposition kicking (NZ seem bad at this, The Paddies and Frogs outstanding) to continuing the pre-and post game partying they are pretty OK, but do they need to be a bit more forthright in challenging prejudices - both in the press, at the bar when discussing the game and at the game itself?

I’d love to see a NZ crowd “shhssssing” someone yelling as a kick was taken and just love it when a Pom gets stuck into a NH journo on his comments blog – as some have these last 2 weeks.

I was in a Yorkshire village pub when England beat France – the only Kiwi there and very anonymous. I chatted with a couple of England supporters and wished them well. They were pissed, happy, gracious and immediately apologised for their press. Perhaps I could have asked them to do something about it, but it would have been completely the wrong thing to do. Oh, the irony.

So wouldn’t it be great if we all got stuck in and stopped taking this shit - no matter where it comes from?

Or am I just being an idealist and unrealistic curmudgeon?