ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
FAN FURY
In a rare show of civil unrest over a two-decade-old decision, 35-year-old Matt Barnett has taken to the streets in Wellington this week to protest what he calls “one of New Zealand’s biggest sporting crimes”: the dropping of Christian Cullen from the All Blacks in 2003.
“I mean, look, a lot of protests and strikes are going on at the moment,” Barnett told The Whakataki Times from outside Parliament, brandishing a handmade placard that read “BRING BACK CULLY!”.
“It would be criminal not to protest against one of the worst atrocities ever committed in New Zealand. Dropping Cully in his prime! I’ve been in disbelief for 22 years! I still can’t get over it.”
Former All Blacks coach John Mitchell infamously dropped Christian Cullen, arguably one of the greatest players in the history of rugby, in his prime at age 27, despite being in form for the Hurricanes and already having scored 46 test tries. It was a move that would see the All Blacks crash out of the 2003 World Cup and leave many NZ rugby fans thinking ‘what if.’
“People talk about climate change, the Middle East and the housing crises,” Barnett continued, “but have they really felt the horror of a world where Christian Cullen didn’t get to show his full brilliance on the biggest stage? I’ve been living with this injustice for 22 years! 22 YEARS!”
When asked what he hoped to achieve, Barnett smiled and shrugged. “Honestly? Maybe just a little closure. Perhaps an apology to the public from NZ Rugby and John Mitchell. It will never change what happened, but it may help people move on.”
More to come.
