A slap in the face

February 13, 2008, 9:31pm,  175 views

The Australian Rugby Union is furious over the Western Force’s decision to allow Matt Henjak to tour South Africa despite being under investigation over an altercation which left teammate Haig Sare with a broken jaw, AAP reports.

The former Wallaby scrumhalf was on the flight to South Africa on Tuesday, while his teammate Sare was leaving hospital, having had a plate inserted in his jaw following the fracas on Sunday.

It’s a curious decision by the Western Force and coach John Mitchell given the signal it sends. After the furore in Perth over special treatment for Ben Cousins by the West Coast Eagles, a hard line would have been expected.

Mitchell has said Henjak will play the Super 14 opening round match against the Sharks in Durban on Friday.

I think it will take all three games in South Africa to assess the merit of this decision. If the Force don’t win at least two of those games, and show discipline on and off the field, it will be judged a failure.

Until recently it has been part of Australian sporting culture that the team is bigger than the individual.