The mucky stuff really hit fans all over New Zealand last week when Sir Steve Hansen said what he thought of those responsible for running the country's national sport, claiming that “relationships between the board and the players are probably the worst it's been”.
NZR responded in time-honoured fashion. Their communications department, whose raison d'etre is supposed to be to communicate, chose to adopt a two-word response: say nothing.
An email from NZ Rugby's chief communications officer, Charlotte McLauchlan, leaked to the news website Stuff, informed staff: “While many of the things Sir Steve said are unfair and hurtful to many, we do not think entering into a media debate with him is the right thing to do.''
Turning a deaf ear as well as a blind eye is the wrong thing to do.
