Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu

[Seaton]

From PL blog:
Last night on Campbell Live (a sports chat show here in New Zealand), Samoa back Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu was a special guest in an eye-opening interview that proved he is willing to sacrifice his rugby life for his fight against the IRB. Fuimaono-Sapolu did not attend a recent disciplinary hearing which, according to him, he knew nothing about. However, he said if he was to show up at such a hearing, he would probably go simply to get punished. Much has been made about the way the Gloucester man has gone about his vents, but in his own words, would anyone have listened otherwise? A fair point. Fuimaono-Sapolu has a Law and Commerce Degree at Auckland University so when questioned by the television presenter, 'would he tell a client to not attend a hearing', he explained this is not the same justice system. "The courts have a lot of trust and actually do try and find justice, I'm not too sure about these guys. If you can't work out that seven days is not the same as three days off then there are some screws missing. It's not just us, a lot of the Tier 2 teams have played four fixtures in two weeks. We have had the mouthguard issue, Scotland have been treated like rubbish, England are allowed to cheat and nothing happens; there's so much injustice that has been dealt out there and I'd struggle to have trust in them." So is he willing to fall for the cause? "Yes, absolutely. I studied for a reason to make sure there was a back-up. The whole idea is that we don't treat the next generation to treat another person like sh*@."

Whilst we are on the subject of the IRB, who fined Alesana and Manu Tuilagi for wearing sponsored mouthguards, Fuimaono-Sapolu may have also landed himself in an extra spot of bother after admitting to using the same branded protective piece. "I do wear that Opro mouthguard. It is a company based in England that comes to clubs and we are advised to get mouthguards made. Everyone in our Gloucester team does it like Mike Tindall as player welfare is massive. I am not paid to wear the mouthguard, I simply wear it for protection and we were not given any official World Cup mouthguards." News breaking today will also not please Fuimaono-Sapolu either as now it seems the IRB will be cracking down on Bible passages written on players' wrist strapping. For a view from the other side of the argument, a representative from the governing body will be appearing on the show tonight. Stay tuned.


He knows something we don't! Tell! Tell! Tell!

Its an IRB conspiracy I tells ya, keeping a media black-out preventing the truth from getting out. Jessica poisoned the Scottish players food the previous night as the All Blacks feared they would have to play us!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He knows something we don't! Tell! Tell! Tell!

Its an IRB conspiracy I tells ya, keeping a media black-out preventing the truth from getting out. Jessica poisoned the Scottish players food the previous night as the All Blacks feared they would have to play us!

He retweeted a story about how Scotland, the morning after the England match, were told to leave their hotel by 9am because one of the teams in the quarter finals was arriving that day and was staying in that hotel
The story had a quote from an "unknown source" (read: some dick who wants to make £50 talking to the papers) saying that Scotland were treated like animals being turfed out

However the SRU and the players didn't care

 

[Seaton]

Lies!

You're part of the conspiracy!

But that's interesting, you say the morning after the England match, by this do you mean the next day, ie the day Georgia played Argentina, or the day after all quaterfinalists were confirmed?

Just wondering what time Murray packs off to church, would hate to be the person having to tell him he gonna have to sort something out before church on a Sabbath!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The day they played Argentina, I believe, which was part of the controversy

 

[Seaton]

Well, the only way Scotland were going to go through was in second place, which would have meant their game was elsewhere in the country, ie no need to hang around.

I assume this of course, either way I doubt the IRB/ hotel management goes out of its way to rub salt into the wounds. Thats your lots job, so unless one of IRB/ hotel staff were English, I dinnae really care, as you say the team didn't.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I've tried to stay out of this debate for so long given I have a track record for going a little too far in some regards.
But come on guys, You're being TOO harsh on Sapolu, this is a man who knew damn well that his team had a high chance of getting through to the quarter finals but were given a harder road to accomplish this feat.
Fans of the major nations like myself can shrug it off and have the attitude like "they weren't going to go very far anyway so the 4 day rest shouldn't bother them"
But if you put yourself in their shoes, you would be equally as frustrated as Sapolu, No, I don't agree with the "racist" label he put on Owens, nor do I agree with the "bias" label. Add in the fact that they don't have as much depth as the bigger nations, a 4 day turn around isn't suffient enough. Then add in the brand fine against one of their players when a bloke like JW can switch the ball which has an effect on the actual outcome of the game itself and he get's let off. Throw in all the bad calls and the fact that nothing ever get's done about bad refereeing and you have yourself a man called Sapolu, who whether you like it or not, IS in fact speaking up for everyone.
I do however feel for the guy as Owens was ridiculous in this game. The same way players can be sanctioned/banned/suspended/fined is exactly what should happen to referees if they have a bad game and make as many bad calls as Owens did, not only against South Africa but Samoa too, then why can't they be summoned to judiciary??. He was pathetic and players and fans alike who complain about referee's time and time again get no justice. Something has to be done to the referee's to ensure a fair and honest game.

I complain about the referee's all the time and maybe I just want something to happen to the referee for a change but his points are very valid.

In saying all this, I have to say that I haven't read ALL the tweets/comments made by Sapolu so your criticism could also be valid. I'm just supporting the fact that the Samoans[and all tier2/3/4 nations] were hard done by and the IRB have shown no sign of guilt at all.

At a risk of resurfacing this debate, you could relate it to a certain incident in 05 between a black team and a red team where a red player was hurt and made comments left right and centre for months on end about a certain black team player which in ways had an effect on his public image... I know alot of posters were in behind and supporting this type of rubbish.

Rubbish.

Some valid points but some rubbish in there.

Owens is a top class referee. He had one bad game (before the WUMs etc come in, he has not been bad at all) and he is labelled a racist and a cheat. Sorry thats not on. This WC has seen some poor refereeing by the likes of Wayne Barnes, Craig Joubert and Allan Rolland who are all supposedly meant to be top class referees have all been poor but I have yet to see the same treatment for them. Owens was not terrible but neither was he great against SA-Samoa. As I said there have been worse games officiated at this WC and no one else has had a little baby outburst like Sapolu. I you want to suggest something then here it is. How about the men on the sidelines help out the men in the middle a little more. Simply by looking after the offside lines and incidences off the ball the referee could then totally focus on the breakdown and open play. I you are looking at interpretations of the breakdown ... maybe the IRB need to help there and clarify it and players are also to blame for trying to gain advantage in certain situation.

Saplou's last outburst came because Samoa were out of the WC. Guaranteed had Samoa beaten either Wales or South Africa it would have been a different story.

 

[Dizzy]

Rubbish.

Some valid points but some rubbish in there.

Owens is a top class referee. He had one bad game (before the WUMs etc come in, he has not been bad at all) and he is labelled a racist and a cheat. Sorry thats not on. This WC has seen some poor refereeing by the likes of Wayne Barnes, Craig Joubert and Allan Rolland who are all supposedly meant to be top class referees have all been poor but I have yet to see the same treatment for them. Owens was not terrible but neither was he great against SA-Samoa. As I said there have been worse games officiated at this WC and no one else has had a little baby outburst like Sapolu. I you want to suggest something then here it is. How about the men on the sidelines help out the men in the middle a little more. Simply by looking after the offside lines and incidences off the ball the referee could then totally focus on the breakdown and open play. I you are looking at interpretations of the breakdown ... maybe the IRB need to help there and clarify it and players are also to blame for trying to gain advantage in certain situation.

Saplou's last outburst came because Samoa were out of the WC. Guaranteed had Samoa beaten either Wales or South Africa it would have been a different story.

Top class referee or not, he still had a bad game. If you want to believe otherwise then that is your opinion and I respect that. And just so you know Cymro, I have constantly complained about referee's throughout this tournament not just Owens, so if you want to see the same treatment for them, I suggest you look harder.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Top class referee or not, he still had a bad game. If you want to believe otherwise then that is your opinion and I respect that. And just so you know Cymro, I have constantly complained about referee's throughout this tournament not just Owens, so if you want to see the same treatment for them, I suggest you look harder.

One bad game does not make him a bad referee or deserve the treatment he received. If you think otherwise then you head needs screwing back on because despite what you said in your previous post the first sentence can be open to interpretation.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I'm with Cymro on this one. To be honest, he didn't even have a really bad game. The only thing he should have done better was manage the scrums to avoid the match from escalating.

It's been mentioned before: the red card was because of the advice from the AR, the so-called illegal tackling by Pietersen on Tuilagi was completely legal and he did pretty decent the rest of the match. Seeing him being rewarded a quarter-final says enough.

 

[Dizzy]

I'm with Cymro on this one. To be honest, he didn't even have a really bad game. The only thing he should have done better was manage the scrums to avoid the match from escalating.

It's been mentioned before: the red card was because of the advice from the AR, the so-called illegal tackling by Pietersen on Tuilagi was completely legal and he did pretty decent the rest of the match. Seeing him being rewarded a quarter-final says enough.

Yes I know it was advised by the assistants, and I'll give Barnes[I think it was] the benefit of the doubt that he didn't see Brussouws blows to Williams' head. But it was on tape which is what baffles me the most. A guy can do something like that and get away with it where as Sapolu insults someone on Twitter and he's being summoned. If this can happen to a player it should be able to happen to a referee is what I have been saying all along.

I'm talking about calls like the one he made where he said Lemi was held in the tackle when he got back up. Owens wasn't even close to the tackle so how can he make a call like that.

I know that referee's make bad calls and it's inevitable given how extensive the laws are now. But surely it's getting out of hand, or am I the only one who thinks so.

You could compare it to the knee by Lawes. He didn't get penalised in the game, it didn't even look completely intentional but he was cited and banned for a couple games from the top of my head[sorry if I'm wrong guys not too confident with that statement]

Even Cooper got cited for his knee to McCaw, no he wasn't charged or anything, but the fact that he was cited is what get's me.

Something should've happened to Brussouw is what I'm saying if the IRB want to be taken seriously.

 

[Seaton]

Saffas not being cited enough?

I think I've heard everything :lol:


No harm intended

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Fair enough, they should have at least had a look in on Brussow but then they should have had a look in on the two Samoans who punched Jannie du Plessis and Victor Matfield as well. Pulling Burgers hair? A number of slaps to face? I don't know if those are red card offenses and I don't care TBH. I say lets move on.

At the end of the day both teams decided no to take it up and waste their time with getting cases ready for the citing officials and I think the fans should accept that it as it is. No need for rugby to turn into soccer.

 

[jawmalawm24]

Now Sapolu's talking about the Samoan Tsunami, I'm with him on this one. We acknowledged the USA for 9/11, Christchurch for the Earthquakes but nothing for the Samoan Tsunami??

 

[TNT88]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/our-dead-not-good-enough-new-antiirb-twitter-rant-20111006-1lbb5.html#ixzz1ZzRbUe2F

Samoa's Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu has again put himself on a collision course with rugby's overlords after another Twitter tirade, this time for not acknowledging his country's worst natural disaster.

However, an International Rugby Board (IRB ) spokesman told AFP on Thursday they had acknowledged the tsunami, saying: "As agreed with the Samoa Rugby Union, the date was respectfully commemorated with a public address immediately prior to kick-off and also the wearing of black armbands to remember those who tragically lost their lives."

Simply because that was what Samoa and the IRB agreed upon.

I'm not with him on anything anymore. He is deliberately trying to mislead people into hating the IRB for no good reason. What a jerk.

 

[Canucks]

Now Sapolu's talking about the Samoan Tsunami, I'm with him on this one. We acknowledged the USA for 9/11, Christchurch for the Earthquakes but nothing for the Samoan Tsunami??

W

oah hold on here.
I agree that the Samoan Tsunami should be recognised and honored however if I recall correctly USA was denied a moment of silence for 9/11 and Russia as well for the Lokomotiv Yaroslav plane crash.
If I'm wrong please correct me but I remember hearing on a hockey website about the Russia and I remember a commentor saying something aobut 9/11.

Are they beng douches? Yes. Are they consistent douches? Yes.

 

[TNT88]

I thought USA did have one.

But that is besides the point. If Samoa specifically requested a minute silence, but didn't get one because it wasn't important enough. I'll change my mind in an instant. But there is no good reason to believe that is the case, and Sapolu hasn't given us a shred of evidence either.

 

[nickdnz]

W

oah hold on here.
I agree that the Samoan Tsunami should be recognised and honored however if I recall correctly USA was denied a moment of silence for 9/11 and Russia as well for the Lokomotiv Yaroslav plane crash.
If I'm wrong please correct me but I remember hearing on a hockey website about the Russia and I remember a commentor saying something aobut 9/11.

Are they beng douches? Yes. Are they consistent douches? Yes.

USA did have one. Regardless, it was something that Samoa and the IRB discussed. Just trying to stir sh*t like the spoilt little brat he is.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yup, and the words he used, again, didn't endear him to anyone

"are our dead not good enough for the irb?" - F*** off, basically.
He's an absolute joke

 

[m0rris]

You'd have thought that when he had a trial up and coming he'd have toned down his rhetoric a bit. The only thing he has done now is made that hole a little bit deeper.

I can imagine he has been receiving many phonecalls like this:
"Oh hello (insert agents name), hows it going?"
"Eli honestly, STFU and stop using twitter you are a massive tool, Goodbye"

And yet he still persists. Despite his talent you do have to wonder when gloucester will tell him to pack his bags for being an embarrassment to the club, as well as a lengthy ban. During his time at Bath there was some shenanigans and he stormed out in a massive rage vowing to destroy bath whenever he could (which he is quite good at) but it probably all boiled down to him calling Danny Grewcock a facist pig or somesuch.

m0rris

 

[psychic duck]

Eliota's punishment

Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu will be banned for 6 months

unless he does the following three things ...

• makes a full apology to Nigel Owens and retracts his criticism of him
• does a minimum of 100 hours rugby community work in Samoa at the IRB's high performance programme there within the next 12 months
• attends and passes a referee's course within three months